Lindsay Whalen

Her profound impact on the collegiate program was further recognized in January 2005 when her #13 jersey was honored and raised to the rafters of Williams Arena. Whalen was subsequently drafted 4th overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun, immediately making an impact by leading the Sun to consecutive WNBA Finals appearances in 2004 and 2005. In 2010, Whalen was traded to the Minnesota Lynx, where she achieved unparalleled success, securing four WNBA championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. She became the winningest player in WNBA history with 325 regular season victories, complemented by five WNBA All-Star selections and three All-WNBA First Team honors.

Both the Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun retired her #13 jersey in 2019. Following her illustrious playing career, Whalen transitioned into coaching, taking on the role of head women’s basketball coach at her alma mater, the University of Minnesota, in April 2018, while still completing her final WNBA season. She retired from playing professional basketball later that year and helmed the Gophers program for five seasons, achieving a 71–76 overall record and guiding the team to a WNIT Second Round appearance in her inaugural 2018-19 season. Her unparalleled contributions to the sport were recognized with induction into the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, followed by induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.

In November 2024, Whalen returned to the professional ranks, joining the Minnesota Lynx as an assistant coach. Her extensive experience as a championship-winning player and a collegiate head coach brings invaluable leadership and strategic insights back to the WNBA, further cementing her status as a formidable figure in basketball.