Lindsay Whalen

Lindsay Whalen

WNBA's Minnesota Lynx  – No. 13
Guard
Born	May 9, 1982 (1982-05-09) Hutchinson, Minnesota
Nationality	American
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	150 lb (68 kg)
College	Minnesota
Draft	4th overall, 2004 Connecticut Sun
Profile	WNBA Info Page
WNBA Teams
Connecticut Sun (2004–2009) Minnesota Lynx (2010–present)
Awards and Honors
3× WNBA All-Star (2006, 2010, 2011) 2× First Team All-WNBA (2008, 2011) 2× WNBA Peak Performer (Assists) (2008, 2011) WNBA Champion (2011)

Lindsay Marie Whalen (born May 9, 1982 in Hutchinson, Minnesota) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She began her pro career as a point guard for the Connecticut Sun. She also played for USK Prague in the Czech Republic during the 2008–09 WNBA off-season.

High school career

At Hutchinson High School in Hutchinson, Minnesota, Lindsay Whalen was a 4-time All-Missota Conference pick, and she led her team to three consecutive conference basketball championships. Whalen was a four-time honorable mention all-state selection. She averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a junior.

Whalen also 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.

College career

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. 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. 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.

She was a two-time Wade Trophy Finalist (2004, 2003) and a two-time Naismith Award Finalist (2004, 2003). 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 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, was a Kodak All-American First Team, USBWA All-American First Team and an AP All-American Second Team.

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

WNBA career

Whalen was selected the first round of the 2004 WNBA Draft (4th overall) by the Connecticut Sun. 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. Before she even put on a WNBA uniform, she had an effect on the 2004 championship: 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 the 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 injured in the 2005 Finals.

In the 2008 season, Whalen led her 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 young Connecticut Sun could not hold off the New York Liberty as they fell 2–1. Whalen led the league in assists with 5.4 apg.

On January 12, 2010, Whalen was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in a deal that also involved Renee Montgomery. She signed a multi-year contract extension with the Minnesota Lynx prior to the team’s Aug. 12, 2010 matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks. Terms of the deal were not announced, per team policy.

In 2011, Whalen led the Lynx to its first trip to the WNBA Finals. The Lynx were dominant, and finished the regular season 27–7, good for the best record in franchise history and the best record in the league. Playing alongside a healthy Seimone Augustus and rookie sensation Maya Moore, Whalen led the WNBA in assists with 5.9 per game. Because of her team's success and her high level of play, Whalen was cited as an MVP candidate. She ultimately finished fifth in MVP voting, and was named First Team All-WNBA for the second time in her career.

USA Basketball

Whalen was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009. The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these participants.

Whalen was one of 21 finalists for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team Roster. The 20 professional women's basketball payers, plus one collegiate player (Brittney Griner), were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee to compete for the final roster which will represent the USA at the 2012 Olympics in London.

WNBA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game	RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game
PPG	Points per game	TO	Turnovers per game	FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage	Bold	Career high		League leader

Personal life

Whalen married former Gopher golfer Ben Greve on October 6, 2007.

External links

• Lindsay Whalen at WNBA.com
• University of Minnesota Player file
• USA Basketball Player file
• WNBA chat transcript
• WNBA Blog
• CZE – Praha snap up duo
• With Lynx on verge of playoffs, Whalen signs extension

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Ticha Penicheiro	WNBA Peak Performer (Assists) 2011 season	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Becky Hammon	WNBA Peak Performer (Assists) 2008 season	Succeeded by Sue Bird