Lawson Tabbed USA Basketball Assistant Coach for 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup

[CameronBornAndBred]

Excellent news!
This kind of experience and exposure for Coach Kara can only benefit recruiting.

"Over the last 25 years, every minute I've spent working with USA Basketball has been an absolute joy," Lawson said. "To now be selected to assist Cheryl at the upcoming World Cup is an incredible honor. Having played on the National Team, I understand the importance of this new appointment. I promise to represent our country with great pride this fall. I will do my part to help our players and staff be as prepared as possible to experience the greatest success in Australia. I want to thank General Dempsey, the Board, Jim Tooley and the Selection Committee for their belief in me. Go USA!"

https://goduke.com/news/2022/7/28/wo...QA2xWjXgL3iiO8

[Phredd3]

This kind of experience and exposure for Coach Kara can only benefit recruiting.

I agree and am looking forward to seeing the proof in that pudding.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Excellent news!
This kind of experience and exposure for Coach Kara can only benefit recruiting.

https://goduke.com/news/2022/7/28/wo...QA2xWjXgL3iiO8

Is this where we are supposed to talk about how honors like this are a distraction and will lead to poor recruiting?

Asking for a friend.

[awhom111]

USA Basketball has to operate under the assumption that they might not be able to get all the players that they want from the WNBA finalists so they named a very large squad in preparation. As expected, Chelsea Gray was one of the players named:
https://www.usab.com/news-events/new...mp-roster.aspx

[dm9e24]

Is this where we are supposed to talk about how honors like this are a distraction and will lead to poor recruiting?

Asking for a friend.

If Kara can use this experience as well as Coach K did in improving as a coach and continuing to recruit on a high level, then the honor will be great for the Duke program.

Right now we are not on a high level in recruiting. This coming year also needs to be a step up in coaching. I realize there is a learning curve and rebuilding to do in the program, but outside of a reliable big, we had a lot of talent last year to finish where we did. I'm pulling hard for Kara. I think sh tis a great asset to the program.

[dudog84]

If Kara can use this experience as well as Coach K did in improving as a coach and continuing to recruit on a high level, then the honor will be great for the Duke program.

Right now we are not on a high level in recruiting. This coming year also needs to be a step up in coaching. I realize there is a learning curve and rebuilding to do in the program, but outside of a reliable big, we had a lot of talent last year to finish where we did. I'm pulling hard for Kara. I think sh tis a great asset to the program.

You don't lose your best player for 7 games in the heart of the conference schedule and just keep rolling, especially in the toughest conference (top-to-bottom) in the country. We were on a tear when Celeste got hurt January 9, and she obviously wasn't 100% when she came back. Be reasonable.

[DoubleBlue]

You don't lose your best player for 7 games in the heart of the conference schedule and just keep rolling, especially in the toughest conference (top-to-bottom) in the country. We were on a tear when Celeste got hurt January 9, and she obviously wasn't 100% when she came back. Be reasonable.

Nothwithstanding the challenging situation for a young coach, some observations on Coach Lawson's coaching style last season were 1) she prefers to let the players work it out on the court rather than calling strategic time outs to reset and refresh, 2) practices were reportedly one size fits all stressing player interchangability rather than specialization and development of team chemistry, and 3) lack of engagement with the coaching staff during games which limited any significant in-game adjustments. Not sure if this is a transitionary strategy or maybe its Lawson's general approach to the game at this point in her coaching career. It seemed more appropriate as an early season strategy which would evolve later in the season but that did not seem to happen.

[heyman25]

I saw one home game last season. I think the injury plagued season was a reason for the below 500 season.My observation is the team lacks structure. They should have plays to run.
The turnovers were excessive and the defense had many holes. I only had 1 game, but instructions were not managed that well by the team.
This season Oliver,Jackson, Richardson, Brown, and Heide all should be improved additions to Celeste Taylor and Shayeanne Day Wilson and Vanessa DeJesus. At least the Coaching staff will have more talent to work with. Balogun and Lewis were error prone and poor shooters.

Volker , the Canadian Koabel, Bothell and Corosdale from transfer portal could make contributions too. Lawson gives good speeches, but this season she should have a decent team to work with.

[awhom111]

Chelsea Gray is still in transit after celebrating a WNBA championship, but one Duke alum did play in the tournament's opener.

Sofia Roma played for 2 minutes in Puerto Rico's 82-58 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...#|tab=boxscore

[burnspbesq]

Even with the Aces and Sun players missing, USA had little difficulty dispatching Belgium in its opening game.

[awhom111]

Sofia Roma had 1 point in 16 minutes in Puerto Rico's 106-42 loss to the United States.
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...A#tab=boxscore

Even with the Aces and Sun players missing, USA had little difficulty dispatching Belgium in its opening game.

The Sun players both played. Chelsea and her Aces teammates arrived Friday morning Australia time. Their Saturday game is the toughest in the group stage so we will see how the rotation is managed.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Sofia Roma had 1 point in 16 minutes in Puerto Rico's 106-42 loss to the United States.
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...A#tab=boxscore



The Sun players both played. Chelsea and her Aces teammates arrived Friday morning Australia time. Their Saturday game is the toughest in the group stage so we will see how the rotation is managed.

I'll spot Puerto Rico at least 20 points for keeping friends and family in mind back home after Fiona.

[awhom111]

Straight into the starting lineup for Chelsea as she had 12 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes in a 77-63 win over China:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...a#tab=boxscore

Sofia played 7 minutes in Puerto Rico's 69-66 loss to Belgium, which would have been a massive upset:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...m#tab=boxscore

I'll spot Puerto Rico at least 20 points for keeping friends and family in mind back home after Fiona.

They are devoting their tournament to that, but their federation's active recruiting of everyone eligible means that the number of players on their team who have ever lived on the island for any reason other than basketball is at an all-time low. Sofia has one parent with Puerto Rican roots and one without, for example as it is possible to qualify with only one grandparent born on the island.

[brevity]

Straight into the starting lineup for Chelsea as she had 12 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes in a 77-63 win over China:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...a#tab=boxscore

Official highlight video from FIBA:



There's a longer, unofficial highlight video with French commentary here.

[awhom111]

Chelsea had 5 points in 14 minutes as the United States set a tournament points record in a 145-69 win over South Korea:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...A#tab=boxscore

Sofia had 8 points in 21 minutes in Puerto Rico's 95-60 loss to China.
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...o#tab=boxscore

The United States secured the top spot in the group while Puerto Rico plays South Korea later for the last quarterfinal place.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Chelsea had 5 points in 14 minutes as the United States set a tournament points record in a 145-69 win over South Korea:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...A#tab=boxscore

Sofia had 8 points in 21 minutes in Puerto Rico's 95-60 loss to China.
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...o#tab=boxscore

The United States secured the top spot in the group while Puerto Rico plays South Korea later for the last quarterfinal place.

That game vs Korea set the record for most points scored by a team in the tournament.

[awhom111]

Chelsea had 16 points and 7 assists in 17 minutes as the United States wins over a Bosnia and Herzegovina team that has looked overmatched against everyone 121-59:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...a#tab=boxscore

Sofia did not play, but Puerto Rico grabbed the last spot in the quarterfinals with a 92-73 win over South Korea.

[awhom111]

8 points in 20 minutes for Chelsea in an 88-55 win over Serbia in the quarterfinals:
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/Page/...7#tab=boxscore

[awhom111]

Sofia played 8 minutes in Puerto Rico's 79-60 loss to Canada:
https://www.fiba.basketball/womensba...#|tab=boxscore

[burnspbesq]

It will be USA agains China for the gold. USA put on a defensive clinic against Canada, winning by 40, whil3 China got two free throws with four seconds left and held on to beat Australia by two.