University of Minnesota Athletics
USA and Whalen Are Golden
10/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic -- The USA National Team completed its perfect run through the 2010 FIBA World Championship on Sunday, beating the host nation 89-69 to claim the Gold Medal it last won at the 2002 event.
Among those with a Gold Medal around her neck was former Golden Gopher All-American Lindsay Whalen. A native of Hutchinson, Minn., Whalen played nine minutes against the Czech Republic and failed to score for the first time in the tournament. But she was instrumental in helping the USA National Team record victories in each of its nine games.
"To be on the podium just felt awesome. It was a great accomplishment for our team," Whalen said. "This was something that you always dream about, and it's just awesome to be a World Champion. To experience that feeling was amazing, and I'm just so happy that we won and had such a great tournament."
Whalen averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game as the backup point guard for the USA team. Her numbers were very similar to those of starting point guard Sue Bird, who finished with averages of 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
"We played hard, and we played together from the start," Whalen said. "It was an incredible experience, and I'm just so thankful the opportunity. To be on the team, and to be here in the Czech Republic where I have played for years, and to have us win, it's a truly unbelievable feeling. I'm just so happy."
For more information about the USA National Team, click here.
--Quotes courtesy of USA Basketball
