Kara Lawson, WBNA champion, Olympic gold medalist and WS alumna has been officially named the head coach of Team USA women’s basketball, further solidifying her legacy of being one of WS’s greatest success stories of all time.
During her time at WS, Lawson was a basketball sensation, winning two state championships in 1997 and 1999, as well as being named the Naismith High School National Player of the Year her senior year. Graduating from WS in 1999, Lawson committed to the University of Tennessee to play SEC Division I basketball. At Tennessee, Lawson achieved two-time All-American status. Lawson was drafted in 2003 to the Detroit Shock, but was later traded to the Sacramento Monarchs where she would later win the WNBA championship in 2005. She went on to earn a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, and was even the highest scorer in the deciding game.
After her retirement in 2015, Lawson chose to focus on her coaching career, becoming an assistant coach of the Boston Celtics and head coach of Duke women’s basketball, as well as broadcasting for ESPN. Now, Lawson is looking forward to coaching Team USA for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympic games.
“She has wanted this for a long time. It’s been a goal of hers to be the Olympic coach,” said math teacher and close friend of Lawson since high school Shannon Rapoza. “She didn’t have a timeline on it, but it’s just been a goal of hers.”
Being a longtime friend of Lawson, Rapoza is excited to see Lawson’s success.
“[It feels] amazing [to see her success],” said Rapoza. “To see [her become the coach of Team USA] so early on in her coaching career is really cool to see.”
Current WS basketball coach Bill Gibson is honored to have had the privilege to coach Lawson when she was in high school.
“[Lawson] was very focused and committed. Her basketball IQ was extremely high and she was a great team leader,” said Gibson. “She was the icing on the cake.”
Gibson’s favorite memory of Lawson in high school is from a state semifinal game, where Lawson showcased her extensive knowledge of the game.
“It was a tied game and [Lawson] had two foul shots,” said Gibson. “She hit the front of the rim and got her own rebound and won the game. That’s the basketball IQ she has.”
Rapoza believes that Lawson’s inherent personality traits helped her get to where she is today.
“[Lawson] is driven and really detail oriented. She sets a goal for herself and she’s going to do it, and she sets the same ideas of coaching for her players,” said Rapoza.
Gibson expected Lawson’s success all along.
“I’m not surprised [at her becoming the coach of Team USA]. I asked her what she wanted to be, and she said she wanted to be a coach,” said Gibson. “She’ll end up being an NBA coach, you watch!”
Aside from the players Lawson coaches, she inspires even more young players to excel in the sport, especially current Lady Spartans. Two years ago, the team even got the opportunity to travel to watch Lawson coach at Duke against the women’s USA Olympic team in the pre-Olympic exhibition game.
“I feel her story inspires me to work hard every
time I’m on the court and not let anything stop me from being a leader on the team,” said senior WS basketball player Maya Williams. “Seeing how she worked hard to reach the WNBA and beyond the Olympics and spread her knowledge as a coach inspires me too.”
For Williams, it is a privilege to play in the same gym as Lawson.
“It feels surreal to be able to play on the same home court as someone who has done so much for women’s sports. I may not have ever seen her play, but I feel the support and same passion for the sport as she does when I’m playing,” said Williams.
Despite the magnitude of her success, Lawson continues to appreciate her time at WS.
“For me, it’s been about the lifelong friendships I’ve made at WS. It says a lot that almost 30 years later there were five of my high school teammates at the USA press conference and four of my high school coaches. So it was the relationships I formed there that have helped,” said Kara Lawson in a statement to The Oracle.
