Kara Lawson

Kara Lawson

Keynote Speaker: Women's Basketball Head Coach, Duke; Former Assistant Coach of the Boston Celtics & Basketball Analyst at ESPN

Kara Lawson Biography

WNBA and Olympic Champion Kara Lawson was named Duke University’s fifth head women’s basketball coach on July 11, 2020.

Lawson, a 2003 Tennessee graduate, brings her decorated basketball career, both on and off the court, to the Blue Devils after spending the 2020 season as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. Lawson was the Celtics’ first female coach in the franchise’s 73-year history. Prior to becoming Duke’s head coach, she helped Boston to an impressive 43-21 record. Lawson is also a founding board member of the Boston Celtics United for Social Justice.

Before joining the Celtics, Lawson had an outstanding broadcasting career that spanned over 17 years including stops with the Washington Wizards and ESPN. She spent two years as the primary television analyst for the Wizards while also broadcasting games for ESPN Radio. Coinciding with her exceptional playing career, Lawson served as an ESPN analyst for men’s and women’s college basketball and the NBA as well as an analyst for NBC Olympics. On January 12, 2007, she became the first female analyst for a nationally televised NBA game.

Serving as head coach for the US 3x3 Women’s National Team, Lawson led Team USA to a gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The first-place finish represented a historic milestone as it was the first time 3x3 was contested at the Olympics. As a reward for her leadership, Lawson was named as the first-ever 3x3 USA Basketball Coach of the Year. Lawson is no stranger to success on the world stage, as she has accumulated 10 gold medals as a player and coach. A 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in Beijing as a player, Lawson is one of three women in Olympic basketball history to win gold as both a player and a coach. Most recently, Lawson served as an assistant coach for the 2022 USA Basketball Women's National Team who won gold at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

Beyond her prolific coaching resume, Lawson played 13 seasons in the WNBA, suiting up with the Sacramento Monarchs, Connecticut Sun, and the Washington Mystics from 2003-2015. Highlights of her storied career include a championship with the Monarchs in 2005 and an All-Star appearance in 2007. Lawson was the No. 5 overall selection by the Detroit Shock in the 2003 WNBA Draft.

A four-time All-Conference selection and two-time All-America choice at Tennessee, Lawson played for the legendary Pat Summitt and led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Four appearances during her collegiate career. She currently ranks third all-time at Tennessee in 3-point field goals made (256), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.415) and also ranks third in career free throw percentage (.847). A standout in the classroom as well as on the court, Lawson was a 2003 CoSIDA/Verizon First Team Academic All-America selection. Lawson graduated from Tennessee with a degree in finance.

Lawson is one of only three NCAA Division I women’s basketball coaches to play in a NCAA Final Four, win a WNBA title and win a WNBA Championship.

As a senior at West Springfield High School, she was selected the 1999 Naismith High School Player of the Year while earning All-America accolades from USA Today, Parade and the WBCA. Additionally, she was the 1998 and 1999 Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia and led her squad to 2-state championships. Lawson was inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame in February 2022.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Kara Lawson and other top speakers and celebrities.

Kara Lawson Speaking Topics

Handle Hard Better: Overcoming Adversity to Reach Peak Performance

Kara Lawson Videos

Kara Lawson on Urgency and Growth - YouTube
Kara Lawson: Handle Hard Better
Kara Lawson: Commit to Each Other

How do I book Kara Lawson to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kara Lawson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kara Lawson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kara Lawson or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Kara Lawson for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Kara Lawson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kara Lawson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Kara Lawson speak about?

Kara Lawson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Basketball, Athlete, Sports, Influential Women, Female Leadership, News & Media, Broadcasting, Women and Sports Coaching.

Where does Kara Lawson travel from?

Kara Lawson generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Kara Lawson?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Kara Lawson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kara Lawson for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kara Lawson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Kara Lawson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Basketball, Athlete and Sports. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Kara Lawson generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Lisa Leslie, Jen Welter and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kara Lawson for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 05/11/2024.

Kara Lawson Speaking Topics

  • Handle Hard Better: Overcoming Adversity to Reach Peak Performance

Kara Lawson Videos

Kara Lawson on Urgency and Growth - YouTube
Kara Lawson: Handle Hard Better
Kara Lawson: Commit to Each Other
Kara Lawson: Respect, Preparation and Growth
Kara Lawson Leaving Celtics To Be Duke Women's Basketball Coach

Kara Lawson Reviews

  • AWESOME experience beginning to end! Thank you!
    Supreme Lending - Sep 25 2024

  • I must commend Kara for her phenomenal performance as a speaker. Her ability to connect with the audience was truly remarkable. Her experience as both a player and coach shone through, making her one of the best speakers I have had the pleasure of hearing. She effortlessly captivated the audience and left a lasting impact on everyone present.
    Nestle USA - May 15 2024

  • Kara was great to work with!
    Portfolio Management Institute - Oct 24 2023

Kara Lawson News

  • How do I book Kara Lawson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kara Lawson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kara Lawson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kara Lawson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Kara Lawson for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Kara Lawson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kara Lawson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Kara Lawson speak about?

    Kara Lawson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Basketball, Athlete, Sports, Influential Women, Female Leadership, News & Media, Broadcasting, Women and Sports Coaching.
  • Where does Kara Lawson travel from?

    Kara Lawson generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Kara Lawson?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Kara Lawson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kara Lawson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kara Lawson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOKING INFORMATION REQUEST
KARA LAWSON

We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.

Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.

Tell us about your event!

We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.


This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.