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Minnesota Lynx general manager Clare Duwelius and assistant coach Katie Smith have moved on from the WNBA's 2024 runner-up team. Duwelius will become GM and executive vice president of Unrivaled, the 3x3 professional women's league that launches in January in Miami. That league was co-founded by Lynx star Napheesa Collier. Smith is joining her alma mater, Ohio State, as assistant women's basketball coach. Smith, who led the Buckeyes to the national championship game as a freshman in 1993, starred at Ohio State from 1992 to 1996. She spent two years with the short-lived ABL, winning championships both seasons with Columbus. Then she went on to a 15-year WNBA playing career in which she played 6½ years with the Lynx and won two league titles with Detroit. Smith also won three gold medals as part of the U.S. Olympic team, and is in the Naismith, Women's Basketball and Ohio State halls of fame. "Katie has been an integral part of the Lynx since her return in 2020," Lynx coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve said in a statement. "She poured her heart and soul into developing the Lynx team and its players into a championship contender once again. Her passion, commitment, and loyalty have left an indelible mark on the organization." Smith, 50, was an assistant for the New York Liberty for four years, then head coach for two seasons (2018-2019). The past five seasons, she has been a Lynx assistant. There are still five head-coach openings in the WNBA: Atlanta, Connecticut, Dallas, Los Angeles and Washington, plus the two 2026 expansion franchises in Portland and Toronto. But Smith opted to join Kevin McGuff's staff with the No. 12 ranked Buckeyes. "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 statement. "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." Ohio State also announced that another former Buckeye, 2024 No. 5 draft pick Jacy Sheldon, will work with the team as director of player development. Sheldon averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 assists in her rookie season with the Dallas Wings. Duwelius had been with the Lynx for 11 seasons, moving to the GM role the past two seasons. The Lynx did not say in their press release if they intend to hire another general manager; Reeve previously served in that role for the 2018-22 seasons before becoming team president. She won the WNBA's coach and executive of the year awards this season, when the Lynx lost the WNBA Finals in five games to New York. A Lynx spokesperson told ESPN on Monday the team is still determining what its front office roles will be going forward after Duwelius' departure.
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