Before Kara Lawson started coaching the women's basketball team at Duke and before she won an WNBA championship, she was dominating in the NCAA. Lawson played four seasons at Tennessee before her time in the pros and then coaching.
As the U.S. women's basketball attempts to win a 10th gold medal, look back at Lawson's time with Tennessee. Here are five facts that you may not know about her:
- Lawson made the NCAA Final Four in three of her four seasons. She and the Volunteers made it to the national championship game in two of those seasons. Lawson finished her career with a 126-17 overall record.
- Lawson won four straight Southeastern Conference regular-season and tournament championships. She never lost a game in the SEC tournament and finished with a 54-2 overall record in the SEC.
- Lawson ranks sixth all-time in scoring at Tennessee. She also ranks third in 3-point field goals made (256), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.415) and third in career free throw percentage (.847).
- Lawson exceled not only on the court but in the classroom. She was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree and two-time SEC Community Service Award winner. She graduated with a degree in finance.
- Lawson is the only active NCAA Division I women's basketball coach, and one of just three all-time, to play in an NCAA Final Four, win a WNBA Championship and win an Olympic gold medal. (Lindsay Whalen and Cynthia Cooper-Dyke are the others.)