Whalen mentioned that she was not ready to return to coaching immediately. While the Lynx advanced to the WNBA Finals last season, she supported them from the sidelines.
“I am thrilled to be back with the Lynx and reunited with Coach and Bekky [assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson],” Whalen stated in the announcement. “Eric and I have a long history, and I believe I am joining the best staff as I step back into coaching and coach in the WNBA for the first time. We have a special team, and I am eager to start working with them.”
Lynx associate head coach Katie Smith departed the team on Nov. 11 to join the coaching staff at Ohio State, her alma mater. Reeve brought Smith on board in 2020 after she was not retained following two losing seasons as head coach of the New York Liberty.
Whalen’s jersey No. 13 has been retired by both the Lynx and the Gophers. Whalen, a five-time All-Star during her nine seasons in Minnesota, began her WNBA career with six seasons at Connecticut under coach Mike Thibault.
She participated in 480 regular-season games, winning 323 (the second most in league history behind Sue Bird) and secured 54 postseason victories (the second most in league history behind Brunson’s 57). Whalen earned Olympic gold medals with Team USA in both 2012 and 2016.
