Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details about Lindsay Whalen:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Lindsay Marie Whalen
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born May 9, 1982
  • Hometown: Hutchinson, Minnesota, United States
  • Height: 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters)
  • Weight: Approximately 173 lbs (78 kg)
  • Wingspan: Not publicly available
  • Shoe Size: Not publicly known
  • Number: #13 (Minnesota Lynx), #4 (Connecticut Sun)
  • Position: Point Guard
  • High School: Hutchinson High School, Minnesota
  • College: University of Minnesota (2000–2004)
  • WNBA Draft: 2004, 1st round, 4th overall pick by the Connecticut Sun
  • Teams Played For:
    • Connecticut Sun (2004–2009)
    • Minnesota Lynx (2010–2018)
  • Accolades:
    • Championship Rings: 4 WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 with Minnesota Lynx)
    • WNBA All-Star: 5-time WNBA All-Star (2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015)
    • WNBA All-Decade Team (2016)
    • WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time (2011)
    • USA Basketball Olympic gold medalist (2012, 2016)
  • Kids: No children publicly known
  • Siblings: Lindsay has two brothers, Casey Whalen and Shane Whalen.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Lindsay Whalen’s player archetype was that of a floor-general point guard, the kind of lead guard who controlled tempo, organized offense, got downhill with strength, and made winning reads rather than chasing empty flash. Defensively, she handled point-of-attack duties with toughness and discipline, using positioning, anticipation, and physicality to stay attached to guards and compete through screens despite not being an overwhelming athlete. Offensively, Whalen was a primary table-setter and secondary scorer, excelling in pick-and-roll orchestration, paint touches, transition push, and timely finishes at the rim while keeping teammates involved. Physically, she brought a sturdy 5-foot-9 frame, good balance, strong shoulders, and the body control to absorb contact and still finish or deliver passes in traffic. Altogether, her play style was steady, forceful, and highly intelligent, built on leadership, rim pressure, playmaking, and a knack for controlling games without needing to dominate them as a pure volume scorer. (WNBA)

Notes:

After retiring from playing in 2018, Whalen transitioned to coaching. She became the head coach of the University of Minnesota’s women’s basketball team, her alma mater.

Sources:
WNBA — Lindsay Whalen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More
Minnesota Lynx — Four-Time WNBA Champion Lindsay Whalen to be Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
USA Basketball — Lindsay Whalen
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Lindsay Whalen