Lindsay Marie Whalen, born on May 9, 1982, in Hutchinson, Minnesota, is a celebrated figure in the world of women’s basketball.
Renowned as a former professional player and current assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Whalen has left an indelible mark on the sport.
Before transitioning to coaching, she had an illustrious playing career, highlighted by four WNBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and a reputation as one of the league’s greatest point guards.
Siblings
Growing up in Hutchinson, Lindsay shared her childhood with four younger siblings, two brothers, Thomas and Casey, and two sisters, Annie and Katie. A
The Whalen household was steeped in a passion for sports, a trait that Lindsay inherited and passed down to her siblings.
While Lindsay carved out a legendary career in basketball, her siblings also embraced athletics, influenced by their family’s active lifestyle.
Career
Whalen first gained prominence at Hutchinson High School, where she averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists as a junior, leading her team to three consecutive conference championships.
Her talent earned her four All-Missota Conference honors, though a state tournament appearance eluded her team.
Whalen stayed close to home for college, attending the University of Minnesota.
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There, she transformed the Golden Gophers’ women’s basketball program, leading them to their only NCAA Final Four appearance in 2004.
She became Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer with 2,285 points and elevated the program’s visibility, with attendance skyrocketing during her tenure.
Drafted fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2004 WNBA Draft, Whalen began her professional career with a bang, finishing fifth in the league in assists as a rookie.
After six seasons with the Sun, she was traded to her hometown Minnesota Lynx in 2010—a move that changed the franchise’s trajectory.
With the Lynx, Whalen won four WNBA titles (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and became the league’s all-time leader in games won (323) upon her retirement in 2018.
Internationally, she secured two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two FIBA World Championship titles with Team USA.
After retiring as a player, Whalen took on coaching roles, first as head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s team from 2018 to 2023, and now as an assistant coach with the Lynx, continuing her legacy in basketball.
Accolades
Whalen’s notable accolades include four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), five All-Star selections, three First Team All-WNBA honors, and three seasons as the league’s assists leader.
She was named to the WNBA Top 20@20 in 2016 and The W25 in 2021, recognizing her as one of the league’s all-time greats.
In college, she was the first Golden Gopher to earn All-American honors in three seasons, a two-time Wade Trophy finalist, a two-time Naismith Award finalist, and Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer with her No. 13 jersey retired by the university in 2005.
Internationally, she won two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two FIBA World Championship titles.
Whalen was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, cementing her status as a basketball icon.
Additionally, she became the first woman named Minneapolis Star Tribune Sportsperson of the Year in 2004, surpassing notable male athletes like Johan Santana and Kevin Garnett.
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