March presents a relentless basketball schedule, especially for Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson. Over the coming weeks, she will travel from Atlanta to Puerto Rico to Durham, balancing her coaching roles for Duke in the ACC and NCAA tournaments with her duties as head coach of the U.S. senior national team during FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Although Team USA has already qualified for the World Cup, they must still compete in the qualifying tournament in San Juan. This period coincides with the crucial ACC tournament, forcing Lawson to split her time. If Duke advances, she will join Team USA in Puerto Rico just before their first qualifier.
From March 11-17, Team USA plays five qualifying games. Meanwhile, in Durham, Lawson's assistants will prepare Duke for the NCAA Tournament. Lawson will leave Puerto Rico before the qualifiers end to rejoin her college team.
This conflict was anticipated when USA Basketball appointed Lawson, a college coach, to lead the Olympic cycle. The organization adapts by using breaks in the college schedule for national team camps, aiming to build continuity despite limited time together.
With Duke aiming for a deep postseason run and Team USA integrating new stars, Lawson faces a pressure-packed month, drawing on her experience as a former point guard under legendary coach Pat Summitt.