University of Minnesota Athletics
Whalen Inducted into Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame
12/12/2019 10:49:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS – Lindsay Whalen added another honor to her illustrious career Wednesday night as she was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame at the Minnesota Sports Awards, held at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot.
Whalen was one of six members of the Class of 2019, including former St. John's football coach John Gagliardi, former hockey player and coach Willard Ikola, and former Minnesota Vikings Randall McDaniel, Randy Moss and John Randle. The members of the six-person class were nominated by Star Tribune readers and journalists.
Now in her second season as head coach at her alma mater, Whalen returned to the Gophers after destroying the program's record book in the early 2000s, finishing her career as Minnesota's all-time points leader, along with being second all-time in assists and third all-time in steals. A four-time all-state selection at Hutchinson High School, about an hour west of Minneapolis, Whalen went on to become the catalyst for the most successful seasons in the history of Gopher women's basketball.
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.
Whalen went on to collect 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 was named All-WNBA five times and finished her career as the winningest player in WNBA history, while ranking third all-time in assists and top-20 in career points and steals.
This summer, she had her No. 13 jersey retired by both the Lynx and Sun.
In international competition, Whalen was a key piece to dominant 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).
Whalen was one of six members of the Class of 2019, including former St. John's football coach John Gagliardi, former hockey player and coach Willard Ikola, and former Minnesota Vikings Randall McDaniel, Randy Moss and John Randle. The members of the six-person class were nominated by Star Tribune readers and journalists.
Now in her second season as head coach at her alma mater, Whalen returned to the Gophers after destroying the program's record book in the early 2000s, finishing her career as Minnesota's all-time points leader, along with being second all-time in assists and third all-time in steals. A four-time all-state selection at Hutchinson High School, about an hour west of Minneapolis, Whalen went on to become the catalyst for the most successful seasons in the history of Gopher women's basketball.
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.
Whalen went on to collect 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 was named All-WNBA five times and finished her career as the winningest player in WNBA history, while ranking third all-time in assists and top-20 in career points and steals.
This summer, she had her No. 13 jersey retired by both the Lynx and Sun.
In international competition, Whalen was a key piece to dominant 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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