WNBA Legend Lindsay Whalen Returns to the Court, This Time as a Head Coach
“I mean Coach, she was willing, when I played, to see things that I could be,” Whalen said of Reeve. “She pushed me to places I didn’t know I could go. I would not have had all that success, be in the Hall of Fame, without that. You need someone like that in your life. So now maybe she can do that now with me as a coach.”
In a move sure to excite fans of women’s basketball, four-time WNBA champion Lindsay Whalen is stepping back onto the court, but this time, she’ll be calling the shots from the sideline. Whalen, a beloved figure in the league known for her fierce competitiveness and unwavering leadership, has been tapped as the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx, the team she led to four championships during her illustrious playing career.
This appointment marks a homecoming for the Minnesota native, who played for the Lynx from 2010 to 2018. And it’s a reunion with someone who played a pivotal role in her success. Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx’s longtime head coach and the architect behind those championship seasons, now finds herself welcoming Whalen back to the organization, albeit in a new role.
“This is a player who played the game at the highest level,” Reeve said of Whalen. “A Hall of Famer. Those experiences she’s had, I’ve never had. And it’s valuable to have someone who’s been a head coach.”
“I mean Coach, she was willing, when I played, to see things that I could be,” Whalen said of Reeve. “She pushed me to places I didn’t know I could go. I would not have had all that success, be in the Hall of Fame, without that. You need someone like that in your life. So now maybe she can do that now with me as a coach.”
The pairing of Whalen and Reeve suggests a potential powerhouse in the making. Whalen’s on-court experience combined with Reeve’s strategic brilliance creates an exciting dynamic for the Lynx. This transition from player to coach mirrors a trend seen across professional sports, where former stars leverage their playing knowledge and understanding of the game to guide younger generations.
As Whalen embarks on this new chapter, the basketball world will be watching closely. Will she be able to replicate the success she experienced as a player? Can she cultivate a winning culture and lead the Lynx back to championship glory? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Whalen’s return to the team she helped build is a story that will captivate basketball fans nationwide.
