University of Minnesota Athletics
Whalen Named First Ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer
4/2/2022 9:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball, M Club
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen, one of the most successful and popular athletes in Minnesota history, is headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2022. Whalen becomes the first Gopher women's basketball player, and the seventh player overall, to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame joining the likes of Kevin McHale who was inducted in 1999 and "Sweet Lou" Hudson who is also a part of the Class of 2022.
Whalen returned to the Gophers after destroying the program's record book in the early 2000s, finishing her career as Minnesota's all-time points leader, along with being second all-time in assists and third all-time in steals. A four-time all-state selection at Hutchinson High School, about an hour west of Minneapolis, Whalen went on to become the catalyst for the most successful seasons in the history of Gopher women's basketball.
Whalen led the Gophers to the Women's Final Four as a player before winning four WNBA titles with the Lynx. A six-time WNBA All-Star and three-time All-WNBA first-team selection, she is also the league's career leader in games won at 307. She averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game in her career with the Connecticut Sun and the Lynx. She was also named a member of the league's 20th anniversary team in 2016 and the 25th anniversary team in 2021.
In international competition, Whalen was a key piece to dominant performances by Team USA in world championship and Olympic competition. Whalen played for two gold medal teams at the World Championships (2010, 2014) and has also won two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016).
The next step for Whalen and the rest of the Class of 2022 will be the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony in September. The event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Springfield, Mass.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherWBB) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the offseason.
Whalen returned to the Gophers after destroying the program's record book in the early 2000s, finishing her career as Minnesota's all-time points leader, along with being second all-time in assists and third all-time in steals. A four-time all-state selection at Hutchinson High School, about an hour west of Minneapolis, Whalen went on to become the catalyst for the most successful seasons in the history of Gopher women's basketball.
𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑺𝑻. 𝑩𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑶𝑻. 𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑳. 𝑶𝑭. 𝑭𝑨𝑴𝑬𝑹‼️ @Lindsay_13
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) April 2, 2022
🏀: https://t.co/Ro6U29cDUy pic.twitter.com/99kCPjJgGV
Whalen led the Gophers to the Women's Final Four as a player before winning four WNBA titles with the Lynx. A six-time WNBA All-Star and three-time All-WNBA first-team selection, she is also the league's career leader in games won at 307. She averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game in her career with the Connecticut Sun and the Lynx. She was also named a member of the league's 20th anniversary team in 2016 and the 25th anniversary team in 2021.
In international competition, Whalen was a key piece to dominant performances by Team USA in world championship and Olympic competition. Whalen played for two gold medal teams at the World Championships (2010, 2014) and has also won two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016).
The next step for Whalen and the rest of the Class of 2022 will be the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony in September. The event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Springfield, Mass.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherWBB) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the offseason.
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