Линдси Уэлен: Американдық баскетболшы және жаттықтырушы

American basketball player and coach

Lindsay Marie Whalen (born May 9, 1982) is a former professional basketball player and coach. She most recently served as the head coach at Minnesota. Whalen has won World titles and two Olympic gold medals with the United States women's national basketball team, as well as four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx. Whalen was announced as a finalist for the Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2022. In 2018, she took over coaching duties at the University of Minnesota, while continuing to play for the Lynx in the WNBA. She retired from playing professional basketball at the end of the 2018 season as the WNBA's career leader in games won (323).

At Hutchinson High School in Hutchinson, Minnesota, Whalen was a four time All Missota Conference pick, and led her team to three consecutive conference basketball championships. She was also a four time honorable mention All State selection. She averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a junior. Whalen won a state title and placed 13th nationally with her club team, the Minnesota Jaguars. She was also an All Conference selection in tennis and track. The gymnasium has since been renamed in Whalen's honor.

The University of Minnesota women's basketball program rose to national prominence during Whalen's college career. The average attendance at women's basketball games grew from 1,087 during her freshman season to 9,866 her senior year. She became Minnesota's all time leading scorer on January 25, 2004, against Michigan State, surpassing 1994 Wade Trophy Winner Carol Ann Shudlick. Whalen finished her career with 2,285 points, fifth best in Big Ten Conference history. Whalen holds Minnesota career records in points, scoring average, games in double figures, free throws made and free throw percentage. Whalen is also among the top ten in field goals made, field goal attempts, field goal percentage, three pointers made, three pointers attempted, three point field goal percentage, free throws attempted, assists and steals. Whalen shares Minnesota's single game record for free throw percentage (14–14 vs. Creighton on 12/4/03) and is the only four time team MVP in school history. She was a two time Wade Trophy Finalist (2003, 2004) and a two time Naismith Award Finalist (2003, 2004). As a senior, Whalen was a Kodak All American First Team, made the USBWA All American Second Team, USBWA All American Second Team and AP All American Second Team. She was the first Golden Gopher to earn All American honors in three different seasons and led Minnesota to its first ever Final Four appearance in 2004, one of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances for Minnesota. The program had been to the tournament just once before her arrival. In the postseason, Whalen was named NCAA Mideast Region MVP for the 2004 NCAA tournament and was a unanimous selection for All Big Ten First Team in 2004, 2003 and 2002. She was a three time Academic All Big Ten (2004, 2003, 2002), won the 2004 and 2002 Fast Break Club Award. As a junior, she was a Kodak All American First Team, USBWA All American First Team and an AP All American Second Team. Whalen's jersey number 13 was retired by the University of Minnesota during a ceremony in January 2005 at Williams Arena.

Whalen was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009. The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these participants. Whalen was selected to be a member of the National team representing the US at the World Championships held in September and October 2010. The team was coached by Geno Auriemma. Because many team members were still playing in the WNBA until just prior to the event, the team had only one day of practice with the entire team before leaving for Ostrava and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Even with limited practice, the team managed to win its first games against Greece by 26 points. The team continued to dominate with victory margins exceeding 20 points in the first five games. Several players shared scoring honors, with Swin Cash, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Whalen, and Sylvia Fowles all ending as high scorer in the first few games. The sixth game was against undefeated Australia — the USA jumped out to a 24 point lead and the USA prevailed 83–75. The USA won its next two games by over 30 points, then faced the host team, the Czech Republic, in the championship game. The USA team had only a five point lead at halftime, which was cut to three points, but the Czechs never got closer. Team USA went on to win the championship and gold medal. Whalen averaged 5.9 points per game. Whalen earned her first Olympic gold medal as the U. S. women swept all eight games they played, with an average margin of victory over 34 points per game. Whalen played for Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics and earned her second Olympic gold medal as they defeated Spain 101–72. In 2018, Whalen announced her retirement from USA basketball, citing the facts that she wasn't absolutely sure that she would compete in the 2020 Olympics and the desire to give younger players an opportunity to have an Olympic experience.

In the 2006–07 and 2007 08 off seasons, Whalen played in Russia for UMMC Ekaterinburg. From 2007 to 2012, Whalen played five off seasons in Czech Republic for ZVVZ USK Prague. In the 2012 13 off season, Whalen played in Turkey for Galatasaray and returned to Russia in the 2013 14 off season to play for Dynamo Moscow with teammate Seimone Augustus. Since 2014, Whalen had played a couple off seasons for AGÜ Spor in the Turkish League. In January 2016, Whalen was announced as a player for Yakin Dogü Universeti.

In April 2018, Whalen was hired as the new head women's basketball coach at her alma mater, the University of Minnesota. Whalen continued to play for the Lynx until the end of the 2018 season while taking on these duties.

Whalen married Ben Greve, an insurance advisor and former Minnesota Golden Gophers golfer, on October 6, 2007.