Lindsay Whalen

Lindsay Marie Whalen (born May 9, 1982) is a former professional basketball player and coach.

She most recently served as the head coach at Minnesota.

She began her professional career as a point guard for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Whalen has won World titles and two Olympic gold medals with the United States women's national basketball team, as well as four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx.

Whalen was announced as a finalist for the Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2022.

She was a two-time Wade Trophy Finalist (2003, 2004) and a two-time Naismith Award Finalist (2003, 2004).

As a senior, Whalen was a Kodak All-American First Team, made the USBWA All-American Second Team, USBWA All-American Second Team and AP All-American Second Team.

She became Minnesota's all-time leading scorer on January 25, 2004, against Michigan State, surpassing 1994 Wade Trophy Winner Carol Ann Shudlick.

Whalen finished her career with 2,285 points, fifth best in Big Ten Conference history.

Whalen holds Minnesota career records in points, scoring average, games in double figures, free throws made and free throw percentage.

Whalen is also among the top ten in field goals made, field goal attempts, field goal percentage, three-pointers made, three-pointers attempted, three-point field goal percentage, free throws attempted, assists and steals.

She was the first Golden Gopher to earn All-American honors in three different seasons and led Minnesota to its first-ever Final Four appearance in 2004, one of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances for Minnesota.

The program had been to the tournament just once before her arrival.

In the postseason, Whalen was named NCAA Mideast Region MVP for the 2004 NCAA tournament and was a unanimous selection for All-Big Ten First Team in 2004, 2003 and 2002.

She was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten (2004, 2003, 2002), won the 2004 and 2002 Fast Break Club Award.

As a junior, she was a Kodak All-American First Team, USBWA All-American First Team and an AP All-American Second Team.

Whalen was selected in the first round of the 2004 WNBA draft (4th overall) by the Connecticut Sun.

Whalen's jersey number 13 was retired by the University of Minnesota during a ceremony in January 2005 at Williams Arena.

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Until 2005 when Minnesota teammate Janel McCarville was selected at number 1, she was the highest drafted WNBA player ever from the Big Ten Conference.

The Minnesota Lynx made an unsuccessful pre-draft trade, sending Sheri Sam and Janell Burse to the Seattle Storm for Amanda Lassiter and the 6th pick in the draft in an attempt to get hometown hero Whalen.

Connecticut picked Whalen before Minnesota could, and the Storm had two more pieces to their eventual championship team.

In her rookie season, she was selected to play in the historic WNBA vs. USA Basketball game at Radio City Music Hall.

She led the Sun to the WNBA Finals in her first and second seasons, playing while injured in the 2005 Finals.

The Sun lost both years in the Finals to the Seattle Storm and Sacramento Monarchs respectively.

In the 2008 season, Whalen led a young team to second place in the Eastern Conference.

She was the MVP runner-up to Candace Parker.

She was selected to the First Team All-WNBA for the first time in her career.

In the playoffs, the Sun could not hold off the New York Liberty as they fell 2–1.

Whalen shares Minnesota's single-game record for free throw percentage (14–14 vs. Creighton on 12/4/03) and is the only four-time team MVP in school history.

Whalen won a state title and placed 13th nationally with her club team, the Minnesota Jaguars.

She was also an All-Conference selection in tennis and track.

The gymnasium has since been renamed in Whalen's honor.

The University of Minnesota women's basketball program rose to national prominence during Whalen's college career.

The average attendance at women's basketball games grew from 1,087 during her freshman season to 9,866 her senior year.

In 2018, she took over coaching duties at the University of Minnesota, while continuing to play for the Lynx in the WNBA.

She retired from playing professional basketball at the end of the 2018 season as the WNBA's career leader in games won (323).

At Hutchinson High School in Hutchinson, Minnesota, Whalen was a four-time All-Missota Conference pick, and led her team to three consecutive conference basketball championships.

She was also a four-time honorable mention All-State selection.

She averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a junior.