Lindsay Whalen Among the New Hires for Minnesota Lynx Coaching Staff

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Lindsay Whalen
Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Since the WNBA season ended there has been a plethora of movement on the coaching front. The Minnesota Lynx weren’t ever going to move on from head coach and president of basketball operations, Cheryl Reeve. But that doesn’t mean they won’t provide her with more help on the bench.

The Lynx would love a repeat bid for a WNBA Championship, something they nearly achieved last season, in a run all the way to the WNBA Finals, losing in heartbreak game 5 fashion vs the New York Liberty. And to help take Minnesota to the next level, Reeve has hired local basketball legend Lindsay Whalen to the staff.

Related: WNBA Deletes Shady Tweet Suggesting Lynx Were Meant to Lose vs Liberty

Whalen is more than a familiar face for Minnesota basketball. As a senior at the U of M, the Hutchinson native lead the lady Golden Gophers to the program’s first and only Final Four appearance (2003-04). Later that year, Lindsay was taken 4th overall in the WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun, where she spent the first six seasons of her pro career.

Minnesota Lynx provide new coaching home for Lindsay Whalen

On January 12, 2010, Whalen was traded home for a direct swap of Renee Montgomery and the teams’ 2010 1st round picks. The hometown girl spent her final nine seasons with Minnesota. Whalen is a four-time WNBA champion, and a member of the Hall of Fame.

During her 15-year WNBA career, Lindsay averaged 11.5 points per game and started 476 of her career 480 games. Now, she is back with the franchise that she helped bring so many championships to. Reeve addressed the hiring of her former star guard, on Saturday.

“I am excited to add both Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff. Eric has vast experience coaching in the WNBA as both a head and an assistant coach and is a WNBA Champion. Lindsay adds a unique perspective as a Lynx legend and Naismith Hall of Famer. I look forward to working with both in our quest for another WNBA Championship.” 

Cheryl Reeve on hiring Lindsay Whalen and Eric Thhibault (Lynx Release)

As noted in the release, Eric Thibault is also joining Reeve’s staff as an associate head coach. He spent the past two seasons leading the Washington Mystics, and has been involved with the organization for more than a decade. Thibault has experienced the pinnacle of the league as well, winning a title in 2019.

Whalen looking to rebound from difficult start to coaching career

Lindsay Whalen spent five seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball team, before stepping down in 2023 with a 71-76 record (32-58 in the Big Ten), and ZERO NCAA Tournament appearances.

The details around her exit are still a bit murky, but it’s clear the University wanted a change, which they got, in the hiring of Dawn Plitzuweit, who was 20-16 in her first season as Gophers head coach, and 8-0 so far in her second season.

But now, Whalen gets a fresh coaching start, and she gets to stay local to her roots. The Lynx newest assistant talked glowingly of her new role, via press release.

“I’m so excited to be back with the Lynx and back with Coach and Becky [Rebekkah Brunson]. Eric and I have also known each other for a long time, and for me, I couldn’t imagine joining a better staff as I return to coaching and get my first opportunity to coach in the WNBA. We have a special group with this team and I can’t wait to get to work.”

Lindsay Whalen on joining the Lynx (Lynx Release)
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