Lindsay Whalen To Retire After Storied WNBA Career

Mon, Aug 13, 2018, 3:28 PM

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A legendary chapter in Lynx history is coming to a close.

At the end of this season—her ninth in a Minnesota Uniform—Lindsay Whalen will retire from the WNBA. The Hutchinson, Minnesota native will leave the game as the Lynx’s franchise leader in assists, and the WNBA’s all-time wins leader.

“I would like to announce that after 15 seasons in the WNBA I am going to retire after the 2018 season,” Whalen said in a release. “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 has led the Lynx to four championships and eight playoff appearances. She averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 dimes per game over the course of her 280 games in a Lynx uniform. Whalen ranks second in Lynx franchise history in games played, and fourth in scoring.

In a career full of highlights, a few in particular stand out. On Sept. 4, 2013, Whalen dished out 14 assists against the Los Angeles Sparks, a Lynx franchise high. Always a competitor, and forever dedicated to her teammates, Whalen scored 26 with nine assists and four rebounds in support of Maya Moore’s franchise-record 48 points in a double-overtime win against the Dream in 2014. Whalen played almost that entire game.

After a storied WNBA career, Whalen will be dedicating herself to her head coaching duties for the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team, where she will continue to build the legacy of incredible leadership she started to create the moment she first came into the league.

“Lindsay Whalen will always be remembered as one of the greatest players and winners in the history of our league,” said WNBA President Lisa Borders in a statement. “I wish Lindsay continued and compelling success as she continues to inspire the next generation of female athletes at the University of Minnesota.”

All told, Whalen has made six All-Star games, 13 playoff runs and eight WNBA Finals appearances. She has won four WNBA championships to go along with two Olympic gold medals and two FIBA world championships. She was the first player in WNBA history to score 5,000 points, dish out 2,000 assists, and collect 1,500 rebounds. She also holds the Lynx’s single-season record for assists, handing out 199 dimes during the Lynx’s first championship season in 2011.

“It has been a privilege and honor to watch Lindsay lead our team to four championships,” said Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx owner Glen Taylor. “Throughout her 15-year WNBA career she has represented the state of Minnesota with class and dignity and thrilled fans ever since she stepped onto the floor at the University of Minnesota. Lindsay is Minnesota women’s basketball and we congratulate her on an amazing WNBA career and look forward to following her in her next endeavor.”

Whalen will play the last regular-season game of her WNBA career on Sunday against the Mystics. It’s a fitting conclusion—Mike Thibault, the coach who drafted Whalen, will be in the building coaching the Mystics. While Lynx fans won’t get to see Whalen on the court after this season, they won’t have to travel far to see her roaming the sidelines. A legend already, Whalen’s impact on Minnesota basketball will continue to be felt for years.

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