Lindsay Whalen

Lindsay Whalen is a retired professional basketball player who played in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) for 15 seasons. She is a four-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time World Champion. Lindsey is also the WNBA’s all-time leader in games won.

High School

Lindsey High School

Whalen was born in Hutchinson, Minnesota, in 1982. Standing at 5’9 and 160lbs, She played basketball for Hutchinson High School, where she was a two-time Minnesota Miss Basketball. As a result, Lindsey led her team to the state championship in 1999 and 2000.

College

Whalen Minnesota

Subsequently, Whalen attended the University of Minnesota, where she played for the Golden Gophers from 2000 to 2004. She was a four-year starter and led the team to the NCAA Tournament in each of her four seasons. Finally, Lindsey was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2004.

Professional

WNBA Lindsey

In the 2004 WNBA Draft, Lindsey Whalen was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the fourth overall pick. She played for the Sun for six seasons, making two WNBA Finals appearances. In 2010, she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx. She won four WNBA championships with the Lynx in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Lindsey was also named the WNBA Finals MVP in 2011.

Olympics

From 2004-2016, Whalen was a member of the United States women’s national basketball team. She won two Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2012. Lindsey also won two World Championships in 2010 and 2014.

Current Status

In 2018, Lindsey Whalen retired from professional basketball. Whalen was staffed as the head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team before Dawn Plitzuweit was named head coach in March 2023. Whalen was hired in 2018 and compiled a record of 77-58 in her five seasons at Minnesota. She led the Gophers to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and 2021. Whalen stepped down as head coach to focus on her family and other opportunities.

Legacy

Lindsay Whalen is one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time. She is a four-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time World Champion. Lindsey is also the WNBA’s all-time leader in games won. She is a role model for young girls and women everywhere, and she has inspired a generation of athletes.