Lindsay Whalen

Lindsay Whalen
Name	Lindsay Whalen
Caption	Whalen in 2018
Birth date	9 May 1982
Birth place	Hutchinson, Minnesota
Nationality	American
Weight lb	160
High school	Hutchinson
College	Minnesota (2000–2004)
Draft year	2004
Draft team	Connecticut Sun
Career start	2004
Career end	2018
Career number	13
Career position	Point guard
Years1	2004–2009
Team1	Connecticut Sun
Years2	2010–2018
Team2	Minnesota Lynx
Cyears1	2018–2023
Cteam1	Minnesota
Highlights	* 4× WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) * 5× WNBA All-Star (2006, 2011, 2013–2015) * 2× All-WNBA First Team (2011, 2013) * WNBA Top 15 Players of All Time * WNBA Top 20@20 * WNBA Top 25 Players of All Time * NCAA Tournament Final Four MOP (2004) * Big Ten Player of the Year (2002) * No. 13 retired by Minnesota Lynx

Lindsay Whalen is an American former professional basketball player and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in WNBA history. A foundational player for the Minnesota Lynx, she led the franchise to four championships and was named one of the league's Top 15 Players of All Time. Following her playing career, she served as the head coach of her alma mater, the University of Minnesota women's basketball team.

Early life and education

Lindsay Whalen was born and raised in Hutchinson, Minnesota, where she attended Hutchinson High School. She excelled in multiple sports, including basketball, softball, and track and field, earning all-state honors in basketball. Her standout performances for the Hutchinson Tigers attracted the attention of major Division I programs across the Midwest.

College career

Whalen played college basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2000 to 2004 under coach Brenda Oldfield and later Pam Borton. She became a transformative figure for the program, leading the Golden Gophers to their first-ever NCAA Women's Final Four in 2004, where she was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. A two-time All-American and the 2002 Big Ten Player of the Year, she finished her career as the program's all-time leading scorer, a record she held for over a decade, and her number 13 was retired by the University of Minnesota.

Professional playing career

Selected fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2004 WNBA draft, Whalen quickly became a WNBA All-Star and helped lead the Sun to two WNBA Finals appearances. In a pivotal 2010 trade, she was acquired by the Minnesota Lynx, a move that catalyzed the franchise's dynasty. Alongside teammates like Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, and Sylvia Fowles, Whalen, as the starting point guard, led the Lynx to WNBA championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Known for her clutch play, physicality, and leadership, she was a five-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team selection before retiring in 2018.

Coaching career

Immediately following her retirement as a player, Whalen was named head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball program in April 2018, becoming the first female head coach of the team in the modern era. She coached the Golden Gophers for five seasons, leading them to the NCAA tournament in her first year. She stepped down from her coaching position in March 2023 to pursue other opportunities, leaving a significant mark as a bridge between the program's historic success and its future.

Personal life

Whalen is married to Ben Greve, a former golfer for the University of Minnesota. The couple resides in Minnesota. She has remained deeply connected to the state's sports community, frequently participating in charitable events and serving as an analyst for Fox Sports North. In 2022, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Legacy and honors

Lindsay Whalen's legacy is cemented as a Minnesota sports icon and a WNBA legend. Her number 13 jersey was retired by the Minnesota Lynx in 2022. She is honored on multiple WNBA anniversary team lists, including the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time and the WNBA's Top 20@20. Her role in leading the Golden Gophers to the 2004 Final Four is considered one of the greatest moments in University of Minnesota athletics history, inspiring a generation of young athletes in the Upper Midwest.

Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:American women's basketball players Category:Minnesota Lynx players Category:Connecticut Sun players Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball players Category:Women's National Basketball Association All-Stars Category:Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductees