MINNEAPOLIS — The WNBA’s offseason coaching and executive carousel made its first stops in Minnesota today as the Lynx announced the departures of general manager Clare Duwelius and associate head coach Katie Smith. Duwelius has been named executive vice president and general manager of Unrivaled Basketball, the brand new offseason 3-on-3 venture co-founded by Lynx all-star Napheesa Collier. Smith is heading back to her alma mater to take an assistant coach position on Kevin McGuff’s staff at Ohio State.
Smith, the first superstar in franchise history, starred for the Lynx as a player from 1999-2005. She also won two WNBA Championships with the Detroit Shock with current Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve, who was an assistant coach on Bill Laimbeer’s staff. Smith joined Reeve’s staff ahead of the 2020 season in the bubble and helped guide the Lynx to four postseason appearances during her five seasons on staff.
“Katie has been an integral part of the Lynx since her return in 2020. She poured her heart and soul into developing the Lynx team and its players into a championship contender once again,” Reeve said in the team’s official release that announced both departures. “Her passion, commitment, and loyalty have left an indelible mark on the organization. Though she is embarking on a new adventure with the Buckeyes, Katie will always be a Lynx, and we wish her the best in her new role.”
A notable storyline from the 2024 season specifically was the continued development of sharpshooters Kayla McBride and Briget Carleton, who both broke Smith’s long-standing franchise record for threes made in a season. The tutelage of Smith served an undeniable role in the breaking of her own record.
“I’m both excited and grateful to return to my alma mater, Ohio State, and to the city my family and I proudly call home,” Smith said in a press release from Ohio State Athletics. “Ohio State and its women’s basketball program played such a pivotal role in my journey and I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to the program that helped shape me. I look forward to joining Coach McGuff and the entire staff in guiding and supporting these talented young women as they chase their dreams. Together, we’re committed to building on Ohio State’s proud legacy and taking our program to championship levels in a fiercely competitive Big Ten. I can’t wait to see and connect with the Buckeye community — around town and at our games. Go Bucks!”
Duwelius came to the Lynx as a basketball operations coordinator in 2014. Across a decade with the organization she worked her way up to the top and was named general manager at the end of 2022.
“We are excited for Clare’s new opportunity with Unrivaled and thank her for 11 great years inside the Lynx organization,” Reeve said in the release. “Clare was tireless in her efforts to support the Lynx players and staff in her roles as director of Lynx basketball operations and subsequently general manager. We will miss her, and we wish her well as she embarks on this new journey.”
Duwelius played an integral role in helping the Lynx reload and contend for a title during a time when much of the national chatter around WNBA media expected a rebuild. In addition to winning Coach of the Year honors, Reeve also received Executive of the Year honors in 2024 as well, a testament to what Minnesota’s front office was able to achieve as a collective.
“We are thrilled to welcome Clare Duwelius as a critical piece of our league,” Unrivaled Commissioner Micky Lawler said. “Her track record and proven excellency speak for themselves, and she brings years of unparalleled experience from a storied and successful franchise.”
The news leaves Reeve and the Lynx with two important roles to fill. It’s been a crazy offseason for coaching and front office turnover around the league, which will only continue as the league gets further and further into winter.
