Team USA women's basketball holds camp ahead of Women's Final Four

Team USA women’s basketball head coach Kara Lawson would have preferred to spend time in Phoenix during early April coaching her Duke team in the Women’s Final Four, but a 12-point loss to UCLA in the Elite Eight changed her plans. She’s still in Phoenix for another major coaching opportunity as Team USA holds a three-day training camp beginning April 1 at Mountain America Performance Center. “I was hoping to come to Phoenix to play,” Lawson said.

“When I was coming for training camp, I was still excited, but I definitely want to be playing in the big weekend for sure. ” The short turnaround from the Elite Eight on March 29 could have Lawson still thinking about the loss. But she said she compartmentalizes her two duties and hasn’t had any issues so far.

“When you walk into the USA gym, and they’re filing into the gym,” Lawson said. “It just feels different in all the best ways. It’s not hard to snap into this.

It feels really good to be back. ” Lawson is holding her third training camp since being appointed the head coach in September 2025. She took over the national team duties from Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.