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Kara Lawson's March Madness & Team USA Juggle
6 Mar
Summary
- Kara Lawson coaches Duke in tournaments and Team USA globally.
- March Madness conflicts with Team USA qualifiers and training camps.
- New young stars debut for Team USA under Lawson's leadership.
Kara Lawson is navigating a demanding schedule in March, concurrently coaching Duke's basketball team through the ACC and NCAA tournaments while also leading USA Basketball's senior national team in World Cup qualifiers.
Duke's ACC tournament run overlaps with Team USA's training camp in Miami. If Duke advances, Lawson and an assistant will remain with the college team while other assistants manage the national team. Lawson aims to join Team USA in Puerto Rico for the qualifiers, which run from March 11-17, facing opponents like Senegal, Italy, and Spain.
This intense period includes the possibility of Lawson experiencing Selection Sunday from either Puerto Rico or Durham, as Duke, a projected No. 3 seed, prepares for the NCAA Tournament beginning March 20. USA Basketball anticipated such conflicts when appointing Lawson for the 2028 Olympic cycle, acknowledging the necessity of maximizing limited practice time for team cohesion.
USA Basketball has historically managed coaching shifts and adjusted schedules to accommodate national team needs, learning from past experiences like Dawn Staley's tenure. These commitments, some mandated by FIBA, are crucial for maintaining Team USA's eight-consecutive gold medal streak and integrating new talent like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers.
