ST. PAUL, MN – As the Minnesota sports icon prepares for her final regular season game at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Governor Mark Dayton is proclaiming Sunday, August 19, 2018 as “Lindsay Whalen Day” throughout the state. Earlier this week, the five-time Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Minnesota Lynx point guard announced her retirement from professional basketball following the completion of the 2018 season.

 

“Lindsay Whalen is a phenomenal champion and an inspiration to sports fans here in Minnesota and across the country. Throughout her career, she has shown exceptional talent, determination, teamwork, and leadership,” said Governor Dayton. “It has been a thrill to watch Lindsay and the Minnesota Lynx win four WNBA championships. I look forward to following her continued success as the University of Minnesota Women's Basketball Coach. Congratulations, Lindsay. Minnesota is enormously proud of you!”

 

A native of Hutchinson, Minnesota, Whalen led the Hutchinson High School girls’ basketball team to three conference championships before attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to continue her basketball career. In 2004, she became the University of Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer, and brought the Gophers to the Final Four of the NCAA Championships, a first in the program’s history. 

 

The Connecticut Sun selected Whalen during the first round of the 2004 WNBA draft, making her the highest drafted WNBA player from the Big Ten Conference. During her 15 seasons with the WNBA, she recorded 322 wins, making her the all-time winningest player in WNBA history. In 2010, Whalen returned home to Minnesota after being traded to the Minnesota Lynx. Together, the team has won 71.4 percent of their games, alongside four separate WNBA championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. 

 

Sunday’s game marks the end of a prolific professional basketball career for Whalen. Following her final run with the Minnesota Lynx at the completion of its 2018 season, Whalen will return to the University of Minnesota as head coach for the university women’s basketball team, leading them in the new 2018-2019 NCCA season.

 

To read Governor Dayton’s full proclamation, CLICK HERE.