Whalen’s Legacy Second to None

(by Jonathan Lewis MSU Contributor)

After helping the Minnesota Lynx win their 4^th WNBA Title, the biggest question mark facing guard Lindsay Whalen was whether or not she would come back for another WNBA season. Whalen, 35, battled injuries throughout the year and showed signs of slowing down when she did play. But almost as if to silence her critics, Whalen turned back the clock in the Lynx game 5 win over the Sparks, scoring 17 points and adding 8 assists as the Lynx closed out the game. The question of whether or not Whalen returns for another shot at a title is only one that Whalen can answer, but even if she doesn’t, there should be no question about her impact on shaping women’s sports here in her home state of Minnesota.

Whalen’s first level of impact came at the University of Minnesota helping take the women’s basketball team to new heights. The team went 8-20 in Whalen’s freshman season, but by the time Whalen was a senior, the girls were playing in the Final Four. Whalen singlehandedly helped create a buzz around the women’s program, as attendance increased from slightly over 1,000 fans per game her freshman year, to almost 10,000 per game her senior year. Whalen had her number retired by the Gophers in 2005 which was a fitting tribute for the player whose name became synonymous with winning during her collegiate career.

Whalen’s impact carried into the WNBA. After starting her career in Connecticut, Whalen came back home to the Lynx in 2010. Whalen’s first season with the Lynx was also the first for head coach Cheryl Reeve, but the results were lees than stellar as the Lynx finished that season 13-21. From then on the Lynx became one of the most dominant franchises in the league, posting a combined record of 182-56 (.765) with the Lynx advancing to the WNBA finals in 6 of the past 7 seasons. The Lynx came to adapt the mentality of Whalen, by playing touch and aggressive defense and coming up with clutch plays when the lights were the brightest. It is no surprise that Whalen this season became the most winning player in WNBA history; she just has a knack for it. With as many successful players as the Lynx and Gophers have had over the years, it’s no surprise that one name still stands tall amongst them all. Known for her tough and gritty style, it’s only fitting that the teams she had the most impact on both use that same style today. If there is any list of best women’s athletes, Whalen certainly is the beginning and the end of the conversation here in her home state. And if this is indeed the end of the line for Whalen, then we should all be thankful we were along for the ride.