Whalen mentioned on the time she was not able to return to teaching straight away. As the Lynx made a run to the WNBA Finals final season, she cheered them on from courtside.
“I’m so excited to be again with the Lynx and again with Coach and Bekky [assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson],” Whalen mentioned within the launch. “Eric and I’ve additionally recognized one another for a very long time, and for me, I couldn’t think about becoming a member of a greater workers as I return to teaching and get my first alternative to educate within the WNBA. We have a particular group with this workforce and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Lynx affiliate head coach Katie Smith left the workforce on Nov. 11 to hitch the workers at Ohio State, her alma mater. Reeve introduced in Smith in 2020, after she her contract wasn’t renewed following two shedding seasons as head coach of the New York Liberty.
Whalen’s jersey No. 13 is retired by each the Lynx and the Gophers. Whalen was a five-time All-Star in 9 seasons in Minnesota after beginning her WNBA profession with six seasons at Connecticut, the place she performed below Mike Thibault.
She performed in 480 regular-season video games, profitable 323 (second most behind Sue Bird in league historical past) and received 54 postseason video games (second in league historical past behind Brunson’s 57). Whalen received Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2012 and 2016.
