University of Minnesota Athletics
Whalen Announces Retirement after Storied WNBA Career
8/13/2018 11:50:00 AM | Women's Basketball
At the end of the current season, Lindsay Whalen will retire from the WNBA as its all-time wins leader, one honor among many that make her one of the greatest players in league history
One of the greatest athletes in Minnesota history today announced her retirement from the WNBA when Lindsay Whalen shared her intentions to hang up her sneakers following the end of the 2018 season. She will meet with the media to discuss her decision at a 1:30 p.m. press conference at the Courts at Mayo Clinic Square. Fans will be able to watch the press conference live on Fox Sports North and NBA TV.
In a release shared by the Minnesota Lynx on Monday morning, Whalen announced her retirement and added, "I would like to thank the WNBA, the Connecticut Sun, and the Minnesota Lynx for believing in me all of these years. I look forward to the next chapter in my basketball career and wish my Lynx coaches and teammates all of the best in the future."
Whalen, who will enter her first season as the Gophers head women's basketball coach this fall, retires after a 15-year career during which she became the winningest player in WNBA history. In addition to her extraordinary professional career, Whalen helped the Gopher program reached unprecedented heights as a student-athlete, and also played for the U.S. national team for 15 years, winning two Olympic gold medals.
"It's difficult to fully capture what Lindsay has meant to this state and this sport but there's no doubt she's retiring as one of the greatest to ever play," said Athletics Director Mark Coyle. "She has inspired an entire generation of young basketball players – girls, boys, women and men. That's an incredible legacy on its own. As she steps away from playing professionally, she'll step fully into her role leading our women's basketball program, and we're excited to be a big part of the next chapter in that legacy."
After a standout high school career at Hutchinson (Minn.) High School, Whalen made the hour-long trip east to the University of Minnesota campus, where she spent four years in the early 2000s completely re-writing the program's record books and serving as the catalyst for the most successful seasons in the history of Gopher women's basketball. Whalen graduated from Minnesota as the Gophers' all-time points leader, along with being second all-time in assists and third all-time in steals. She was the first three-time All-American in program history, a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. After a Sweet Sixteen appearance her junior season (2002-03), Whalen led the Gophers to their only Final Four in program history in 2004. Her jersey, No. 13, hangs in the rafters of Williams Arena.
Her globally recognized skills and her legendary will to win positioned her for tremendous success in her professional and international career, during which she collected numerous honors and championships in the WNBA and with the U.S. national team. After playing five seasons with the Connecticut Sun, Whalen returned to her home state with the Minnesota Lynx and has since won four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). Whalen has been named All-WNBA five times and is currently third in WNBA history in assists, to go along with being in the top-20 in career points and steals. She was the first player in league history to amass 5,000 points, 2,000 assists and 1,500 rebounds and, last year, she became the winningest player in WNBA history, having now been a part of more than 320 wins. She also played professionally in Turkey, Russia and the Czech Republic.
In international competition, Whalen was a key piece to dominating performances by Team USA in world championship and Olympic competition. Whalen played for two gold medal teams at the World Championships (2010, 2014) and has also won two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016).
In a release shared by the Minnesota Lynx on Monday morning, Whalen announced her retirement and added, "I would like to thank the WNBA, the Connecticut Sun, and the Minnesota Lynx for believing in me all of these years. I look forward to the next chapter in my basketball career and wish my Lynx coaches and teammates all of the best in the future."
Whalen, who will enter her first season as the Gophers head women's basketball coach this fall, retires after a 15-year career during which she became the winningest player in WNBA history. In addition to her extraordinary professional career, Whalen helped the Gopher program reached unprecedented heights as a student-athlete, and also played for the U.S. national team for 15 years, winning two Olympic gold medals.
"It's difficult to fully capture what Lindsay has meant to this state and this sport but there's no doubt she's retiring as one of the greatest to ever play," said Athletics Director Mark Coyle. "She has inspired an entire generation of young basketball players – girls, boys, women and men. That's an incredible legacy on its own. As she steps away from playing professionally, she'll step fully into her role leading our women's basketball program, and we're excited to be a big part of the next chapter in that legacy."
After a standout high school career at Hutchinson (Minn.) High School, Whalen made the hour-long trip east to the University of Minnesota campus, where she spent four years in the early 2000s completely re-writing the program's record books and serving as the catalyst for the most successful seasons in the history of Gopher women's basketball. Whalen graduated from Minnesota as the Gophers' all-time points leader, along with being second all-time in assists and third all-time in steals. She was the first three-time All-American in program history, a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. After a Sweet Sixteen appearance her junior season (2002-03), Whalen led the Gophers to their only Final Four in program history in 2004. Her jersey, No. 13, hangs in the rafters of Williams Arena.
Her globally recognized skills and her legendary will to win positioned her for tremendous success in her professional and international career, during which she collected numerous honors and championships in the WNBA and with the U.S. national team. After playing five seasons with the Connecticut Sun, Whalen returned to her home state with the Minnesota Lynx and has since won four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). Whalen has been named All-WNBA five times and is currently third in WNBA history in assists, to go along with being in the top-20 in career points and steals. She was the first player in league history to amass 5,000 points, 2,000 assists and 1,500 rebounds and, last year, she became the winningest player in WNBA history, having now been a part of more than 320 wins. She also played professionally in Turkey, Russia and the Czech Republic.
In international competition, Whalen was a key piece to dominating performances by Team USA in world championship and Olympic competition. Whalen played for two gold medal teams at the World Championships (2010, 2014) and has also won two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016).
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