Clare Duwelius

Last updated
Claire Duwelius
1st Executive Vice President and General Manager of Unrivaled
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 11, 2024
Personal details
Born (1989-04-18) April 18, 1989 (age 35)
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Education Wayne State College
Southwest Minnesota State University
OccupationExecutive Vice President and General Manager of Unrivaled

Clare Duwelius (born April 18, 1989) [1] is an American basketball executive who is the General Manager and Executive Vice President of Unrivaled. Duwelius was formerly the general manager of the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) after having started her career with the Lynx in 2014 as the Basketball Operations Coordinator, then being elevated to Basketball Operations Manager in 2016 and later assistant general manager in 2018.

Contents

Early life

Duwelius was raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She attended Dowling Catholic High School while growing up and then went to Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska to play basketball. She hit a game-winning three-pointer during the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament to help lead the Wildcats to the conference title. [2] Duwelius concluded her career at WSC as the program's all-time leader in 3-point field goals made (252) and was named first team All-NSIC in 2012, helping lead Wayne State to the NCAA Elite Eight. [3] She was also named the 2008-2009 NSIC Freshman of the Year.

Following her playing career, Duwelius went on to become a graduate assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota. While working on her master's degree at SMSU, Duwelius assisted in all operations of the women's basketball program, such as practice planning, facility preparation, equipment managing, team travel and video exchange. [4]

Executive career

Minnesota Lynx

Duwelius began her career in the WNBA as the basketball operations coordinator with the Minnesota Lynx in 2014. She had been promoted to assistant general manager in 2018. After spending the last five years in that role, in December 2022, the Lynx announced Duwelius as their new general manager, the fourth overall in franchise history. [5]

Duwelius's WNBA Draft experience as General Manager, she selected Diamond Miller and Dorka Juhász in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Both Miller and Juhász were named to the All-Rookie Team during the 2023 season. [6] Following the 2023 season, Duwelius and President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Cheryl Reeve retooled the Lynx roster and brought in Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Sika Koné, and Olivia Époupa through signings and trades. She also brought back Cecilia Zandalasini, who previously played in Minnesota, as well as drafted Alissa Pili. [7] The Lynx won the 2024 WNBA Commissioner's Cup with their retooled roster on June 25, 2024. [8]

Unrivaled

On November 11, 2024, Duwelius was named as executive vice president and general manager of Unrivaled, a women's 3x3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. [9]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Clare Duwelius". wscwildcats.com. WSC Wildcats Athletics. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Wayne State buzzer beater sinks Vikings in NSIC Tournament title game". goaugie.com. Augustana Athletics. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "CLARE DUWELIUS". smsumustangs.com. SMSU Athletics. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Birch, Tommy. "Minnesota Lynx: How a Dowling Catholic grad rose to key spot in one of WNBA's top franchises". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines Register. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Name Clare Duwelius as General Manager". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston Named 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year". WNBA. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Finalize 2024 Roster". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Lynx vs. Liberty Boxscore". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Professional Women's Basketball League 'Unrivaled' Names Clare Duwelius as Executive Vice President and General Manager". Sports Business Journal (Press release). November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
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