2024 Summer Olympics: Who Are the USA Basketball Women’s Coaches?
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Who Are the USA Basketball Women's Coaches?
USA Basketball has revealed the coaching lineup for the 2024 Women's National Team, set to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris. Head coach Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx will be joined by assistants Mike Thibault from the Washington Mystics, Kara Lawson of Duke University, and Joni Taylor from Texas A&M. This team of coaches, who previously guided the USA to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup, was chosen by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee.
“After winning the gold in Sydney, it’s exciting to have Mike, Kara and Joni once again joining Cheryl and the USA Women’s National Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics,” said USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley. “Our staff has decades of diverse coaching experience and I’m looking forward to watching them lead our women’s team with the goal of winning an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.”
Besides their 2022 World Cup involvement, Thibault, Lawson, and Taylor each bring prior coaching experience from their roles on USA Basketball's junior national or national teams. Additionally, Lawson boasts a distinguished decade-long playing career with USA Basketball.
Team USA Head Coach Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx)
"I really enjoyed the time that our staff had over in Sydney at the World Cup, our first time in competition together," Reeve said. "Each has different strengths they bring to the table and I'm looking forward to working with them for the run in Paris."
Assistant Coach Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics)
Thibault brings nearly three decades of coaching expertise to the USA Basketball men's and women's programs, with his involvement dating back to 1993. On the women's side, he has been an assistant coach for teams that won gold at the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
Thibault has also had a distinguished career in the WNBA and is currently the general manager of the Washington Mystics, after serving as both head coach and general manager for a decade. With a record of 379 career wins over 20 years as head coach of the Mystics (2013-2022) and the Connecticut Sun (2003-2012), Thibault holds the title of the winningest coach in WNBA history. He is a three-time WNBA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2013) and led his team to a WNBA championship in 2019.
Assistant Coach Kara Lawson (Duke University)
Lawson started her USA Basketball journey as a player in 1998, clinching a bronze medal at the World Youth Games. Throughout her playing career, she secured gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, and the 2001 World University Games.
Transitioning into coaching, Lawson has held several head coaching positions since 2017, leading USA women’s teams to seven 3x3 gold medals. Her victories include the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2017 and 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups, and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
Since July 2020, Lawson has served as the head coach at Duke University. Before joining Duke, she was an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics during the 2019-20 season.
Assistant Coach Joni Taylor (Texas A&M)
Taylor recently led the 2023 USA Women’s U19 National Team to a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, marking her sixth assignment with USA Basketball.
Currently in her second season as the women's basketball coach at Texas A&M, Taylor previously spent seven seasons at the helm of the University of Georgia's program, achieving a 140-75 record. During her tenure at Georgia, she led the team to seven winning seasons and made four NCAA Tournament appearances in the six years the tournament was held.
The 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled from July 26 to August 11, with the women’s 5-on-5 basketball competition slated for July 27 to August 11. The preliminary rounds will be held in Lille, France.
The USA is aiming for its eighth straight Olympic gold medal and its 11th overall since 1996. At the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, the U.S. team secured the gold with an undefeated record of 8-0.
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Who Are the USA Basketball Women's Coaches?
USA Basketball has revealed the coaching lineup for the 2024 Women's National Team, set to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris. Head coach Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx will be joined by assistants Mike Thibault from the Washington Mystics, Kara Lawson of Duke University, and Joni Taylor from Texas A&M. This team of coaches, who previously guided the USA to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup, was chosen by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee.
“After winning the gold in Sydney, it’s exciting to have Mike, Kara and Joni once again joining Cheryl and the USA Women’s National Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics,” said USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley. “Our staff has decades of diverse coaching experience and I’m looking forward to watching them lead our women’s team with the goal of winning an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.”
Besides their 2022 World Cup involvement, Thibault, Lawson, and Taylor each bring prior coaching experience from their roles on USA Basketball's junior national or national teams. Additionally, Lawson boasts a distinguished decade-long playing career with USA Basketball.
