The San Juan Qualifiers are a healthy trial run for Team USA. That goes for the team as well as the coaching staff. The team has already qualified for the World Cup in September by winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. So, the squad consists of a mix between veterans and youngsters. Phenoms like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will be making their senior team debuts, while Gold Medalists like Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum will be guiding them. But who will be the coach on the sidelines? Let’s unpack Team USA’s coaching staff.

Who Is the Head Coach of Team USA for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers? 

After Cheryl Reeve’s tenure ended at the 2024 Olympics, Kara Lawson was announced as the head coach in September 2025. She was chosen by new managing director Sue Bird. “When I thought about the qualities that we were going to need for our head coach, I looked for someone who understood the experience of having USA on their chest. In Kara’s case, it came in the form of a jersey as well as a polo,” Bird said, a nod to Lawson’s tenure as both a player and coach for the national team. “Her international experience is unmatched.”

Lawson is a gold medalist for Team USA as a player, winning it at the 2008 Beijing Games. She has also coached the national team’s 3×3 wing to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games and has been an assistant for the 5 vs 5 setup since 2024. 

“It’s incredible. I mean, it’s the No. 1 job in our country, right? At least it is to me. I guess everyone can have their opinion,” Lawson said. “To me, to lead your country’s national team is the best job there is, and to be selected for. That’s a great feeling—the belief and the trust the Federation has in me, and Sue specifically, is awesome.” The Duke coach, who recently won the ACC title for the second consecutive time, will now travel to be with Team USA at the qualifiers. 

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Who Are the Key Staff Members Supporting Team USA? 

Lawson will have multiple key assistant coaches helping her on the sidelines. Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury) and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever) will serve as the assistant coaches. Nakase, Tibbetts and White already got the hang of their job at December’s training camp when they made their assistant coaching debuts for the women’s program.

“Huge fans of all them. I think they’re really bright basketball minds…they’re very prepared, very disciplined…they have a lot of insight… I can’t wait to learn from them,” Paige Bueckers said during the camp.

That’s not all, as new Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez, along with Duke assistant coach Tia Jackson, will serve as scout coaches for the team. 

How does the support staff help players in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers?

There is not a lot of time for Team USA to gel together and prepare as a team. They are playing with unfamiliar teammates against opponents they don’t usually face. The squad needs a lot of support from familiar faces. If you notice, each assistant coach is from the WNBA, which helps them acclimatize to the team. 

Since the coaches understand the players, the process becomes a lot easier. They guide the players with the changes that international basketball brings and how they need to adapt. Scout coaches Fernandez and Jackson will analyze their opponents and figure out a way to play against them. Fernandez is known for his international connections and prior recruitment during his time at Florida State, which further gives an advantage to the players.