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Duke hires Celtics assistant, former WNBA All-Star Lawson as new HC

Kathryn Riley / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Duke has hired Kara Lawson to be the new head coach of its women's basketball team, the team announced Saturday.

Lawson, an Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA All-Star, retired from playing in 2015. She worked as a member of the Washington Wizards' broadcast team starting in 2017 before joining Brad Stevens' Boston Celtics staff as an assistant coach last summer.

The Celtics are currently preparing for the restart of the NBA season and could be playing as late as October if they advance to the 2020 Finals. It's unclear whether Lawson's time with the team has officially concluded.

On July 2, Blue Devils head coach Joanne McCallie announced she wouldn't return to the program after the sides couldn't agree on a contract extension. The team went 330-107 with four Elite Eight and three Sweet 16 appearances in her 13 years at the helm.

Duke went 18-12 this season, finishing third in the ACC.

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