March Madness and Duke Basketball have become synonymous with Kara Lawson, a former professional basketball player and current head coach of Duke University Women’s Basketball. As a player, Lawson had a successful career in the WNBA and represented the United States in the Olympics, winning a gold medal both as a player and later as a coach.
After retiring from playing, Lawson transitioned into coaching, joining the Celtics for the 2019-2020 season before accepting the head coach position of Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball.
Of her notable contributions to women's basketball, her advocacy for the sport's growth and visibility might be one of the greatest. Lawson has been a vocal supporter of women's basketball at all levels and has worked to promote its development and increase opportunities for female athletes.
In terms of her coaching style, Lawson is often described as knowledgeable, passionate, and dedicated. She brings her wealth of experience as a player into her coaching approach, emphasizing fundamentals, strategy, and mental toughness. Her coaching style is known to be both demanding and supportive, pushing her players to excel while also providing guidance and encouragement.
In a 2022 training session with the Duke Blue Devils, Lawson highlights that while we might wait for things to get easier in life, it won’t. That’s not how we grow, develop, get stronger.
Plainly, “It will never get easier. What happens is you handle hard better.”
This style of coaching and mentoring is something that we at 318 Foundation see as critical for girls who are looking to play college basketball.
In historically underserved communities, young girls face a significant opportunity gap due to complex social, economic, and educational challenges, creating formidable barriers to their success. With this in mind, 318 Foundation was founded.
Of our three programs, 318 SPORTS is dedicated to empowering exceptionally talented athletes who may lack exposure or the necessary support to unlock their full potential. Through 318 SPORTS, we aim to provide a holistic experience that empowers female athletes with the tools they need to succeed both on and off the court, fostering personal growth, access to resources, and a strong network within the sports community. With a focus on enhancing skills, physical conditioning, mental resilience, and leadership abilities, the program aims to prepare athletes for success in basketball and beyond.
It is our goal to have girls from historically underserved communities have the access and opportunity to find coaches and mentors that are as instrumental to their lives as Kara Lawson has been to Duke women’s basketball and her athletes.
Taking inspiration, we aim to help guide the next generation.
Join us in the journey towards excellence with 318 SPORTS.
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