University of Minnesota Athletics
Lindsay Whalen Added to U.S. National Team Roster
3/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
USA Basketball today announced that Lynx guards Lindsay Whalen and Candice Wiggins have been added to the 2010-12 USA Basketball Women's National Team, joining Lynx teammate Seimone Augustus on the roster. Whalen and Wiggins were among 12 athletes added to the roster today, bringing the pool of players from which the 2010 USA World Championship Team and, should the USA qualify, the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team will be selected to 20. Player selections were made by the five member USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee.
Originally drafted fourth overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun, Whalen, 27, has averaged 11.6 points, 4.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 197 career regular season WNBA games (196 starts), all with Connecticut. The Lynx acquired the Hutchinson, Minn. native, along with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft on January 12, 2010 from the Sun in exchange for guard Renee Montgomery and the first overall choice in the 2010 WNBA Draft. With 2,290 points, 832 rebounds 964 career assists, Whalen is on pace, in 2010, to become just the third player in WNBA history to post 2,500+ points, 1,000+ rebounds and 1,000+ assists. The two-time WNBA All-Star's 4.9 assists per game ranks fifth all-time in
WNBA history.
Whalen's experience with USA Basketball began in 2002 when, as a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, she won a gold medal at the 2002 FIBA U21 World Championship as a member of the 2002 USA FIBA U21 World Championship team. Additionally, the 5-foot-9 guard was a member of the 2007-08 USA Basketball Women’s National Team, participating in the 2008 USA National Team spring training camp in Spain where the team went 2-0, with Whalen averaging 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
“I just want to thank everyone at USA Basketball for this tremendous honor,” said Whalen. “To be recognized as one of the best in the world is truly humbling. I’m looking forward to the chance to play with my Lynx teammates in Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins, as well as the opportunity to learn from one of the great coaches in the women’s game in Coach Auriemma. Wearing the red, white and blue is always a special feeling.”
Release courtesy of USA Basketball and Minnesota Lynx.
