Karleen Thompson

Karleen M. Thompson (née Shields; born July 1, 1968) is the associate head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team since 2018. Before joining the Cavaliers, Thompson was a WNBA head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2004 and the Houston Comets from 2007 to 2008. Additionally, Thompson was an assistant coach for the Clemson Tigers women's basketball team from 2010 to 2013 and the Atlanta Dream from 2013 to 2017.

Early life and education In 1968, Thompson was born in California. While attending high school in Snyder, Texas, Thompson played on the volleyball and basketball teams. For her post-secondary education, Thompson continued playing basketball with Contra Costa College in 1991 before moving to the USC Trojans women's basketball team in 1993.

Career After completing her social sciences degree at the University of Southern California in 1996, Thompson joined Gatorade as a sports marketer. The following year, Thompson started her Women's National Basketball Association career when she became a manager for the Los Angeles Sparks in 1997. At the 2004 WNBA Playoffs, Thompson had one win and two losses before Los Angeles was defeated by the Sacramento Monarchs in the first round.

Upon leaving the Sparks, Thompson was an assistant coach of the Houston Comets between 2005 and 2007. While she was an assistant coach for a Moscow basketball team in 2007, Thompson was named the Comets general manager and head coach. With 30 wins and 38 losses as the Comets' head coach from 2007 to 2008, Thompson left the WNBA to work in college basketball as an assistant coach for the Clemson Tigers women's basketball team from 2010 to 2013.

Head coaching record

Personal life In February 2009, Thompson sued the WNBA in a New York district court lawsuit. In the case, Thompson said she was misled to stay with the WNBA when the organization took over the Comets in March 2008. Additionally, Thompson stated she had lost future job positions when the Comets disbanded in December 2008. The case was dismissed in October 2009 due to a lack of diversity jurisdiction.