Whalen was instrumental in leading the Lynx to four WNBA championships between 2011 and 2017 and was later honored with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Lynx welcomed Lindsay Whalen, a Minnesota basketball legend, and former Washington Mystics coach Eric Thibault to their coaching staff on Saturday.
“I am thrilled to have Eric and Lindsay join our coaching staff,” expressed Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. “Eric brings extensive coaching experience in the WNBA and a championship-winning background. Lindsay, as a Lynx icon and Hall of Famer, offers a unique perspective. I am eager to collaborate with both in our pursuit of another WNBA title.”
Thibault, recently released by the Mystics, will take on the role of associate head coach.
“It’s a great privilege to join Cheryl’s staff and be a part of the Lynx organization,” said Thibault. “The team has established a fantastic winning culture, and I am excited to contribute towards our goal of winning a WNBA championship.”
Thibault led the Mystics as head coach in the past two seasons after serving as an assistant for the franchise for a decade.
Whalen, a key player in the Lynx’s championship runs, expressed her enthusiasm about returning to the team and working alongside Coach Reeve and Rebekkah Brunson. She also mentioned her long-standing relationship with Eric Thibault and her excitement about coaching in the WNBA for the first time.
Following her retirement as a player, Whalen took on the role of head coach at her alma mater, the University of Minnesota.
Prior to her time with the Lynx, Whalen played for Mike Thibault’s Connecticut Sun and later hired Eric’s sister, Carly Thibault, as associate head coach at Minnesota.
The Lynx made it to the WNBA Finals this recent season for the first time since Whalen’s playing days, ultimately falling to the New York Liberty in a decisive Game 5.
Earlier in the offseason, former Lynx associate head coach Katie Smith departed to coach at her alma mater, Ohio State.
