Lindsey Whalen
Generated by DeepSeek V3.2Expansion Funnel Raw 43 → Dedup 0 → NER 0 → Enqueued 0
| Lindsey Whalen | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lindsey Whalen |
| Caption | Whalen in 2018 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Birth date | 9 May 1982 |
| Birth place | Hutchinson, Minnesota, U.S. |
| College | University of Minnesota |
| 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 | 2010–2014 |
| Team2 | Minnesota Lynx |
| Years3 | 2015 |
| Team3 | UMMC Ekaterinburg |
| Years4 | 2015–2018 |
| Team4 | Minnesota Lynx |
| Highlights | * 4× WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) * 5× WNBA All-Star (2006, 2011, 2013–2015) * 2× All-WNBA First Team (2008, 2011) * WNBA's Top 20@20 * Top 25 Players in WNBA History * WNBA Finals MVP (2011) * Minnesota Lynx all-time assists leader * University of Minnesota retired jersey No. 13 |
| Coaching years1 | 2018–2023 |
| Coaching team1 | Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball |
| Coaching years2 | 2024– |
| Coaching team2 | Minnesota Lynx (assistant) |
Lindsey Whalen is a former professional basketball player and current coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in WNBA history. A four-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx, she was a five-time WNBA All-Star and the WNBA Finals MVP in 2011. Following her playing career, she served as head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball program and later returned to the Lynx as an assistant coach, cementing her legacy as a central figure in Minnesota basketball history.
Early life and education
Born and raised in Hutchinson, Minnesota, she was a multi-sport standout at Hutchinson High School. Excelling in basketball, softball, and track and field, she led her basketball team to a state tournament appearance. Her prolific high school career attracted attention from major NCAA Division I programs across the Midwest. She ultimately chose to stay in her home state, committing to play for the University of Minnesota under coach Cheryl Littlejohn.
College career
Her tenure with the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball team transformed the program into a national contender. Under coach Pam Borton, she led the Golden Gophers to their first-ever NCAA Women's Final Four appearance in 2004. That season, she earned All-American honors and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. She finished her collegiate career as the program's all-time leader in points and assists, achievements that led to her jersey number being retired by the University of Minnesota.
Professional playing career
Selected fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2004 WNBA draft, she quickly became a star, earning WNBA All-Star honors in 2006. A 2008 trade brought her to the Minnesota Lynx, where she became the franchise cornerstone. Alongside teammates like Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, and Sylvia Fowles, she led the Lynx to four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). She was named the WNBA Finals MVP in 2011 and was selected to the All-WNBA First Team twice. She also played professionally overseas for powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia.
Coaching career
Immediately after retiring as a player in 2018, she was named head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball program. In her five seasons, she led the team to multiple NCAA tournament appearances and developed several all-conference players. In 2024, she returned to the WNBA, joining the Minnesota Lynx as an assistant coach under Cheryl Reeve, reuniting with the franchise where she built her legendary playing career.
Personal life
She married former University of Minnesota football player Ben Greve in 2013. The couple is actively involved in the Twin Cities community, supporting various charitable initiatives. She has been a prominent ambassador for women's sports in Minnesota and maintains a strong connection to her hometown of Hutchinson, Minnesota.
Legacy and honors
Her legacy is enshrined as one of the Top 25 Players in WNBA History. She is the Minnesota Lynx's all-time leader in assists and a member of the WNBA's Top 20@20 list. Her number 13 jersey is retired by both the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Lynx. Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, her career is celebrated for elevating both the Lynx and the Golden Gophers to unprecedented heights, making her an iconic figure in American basketball.
Category:Living people Category:American women's basketball players Category:Minnesota Lynx players Category:Connecticut Sun players Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball coaches