As the Lynx made a run to the WNBA Finals last season, she cheered them on from courtside.
“I’m so excited to be back with the Lynx and back with Coach and Bekky [assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson],” Whalen said in the release. “Eric and I have also known each other for a long time, and for me, I couldn’t imagine joining a better staff as I return to coaching and get my first opportunity to coach in the WNBA. We have a special group with this team and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Lynx associate head coach Katie Smith left the team to join the Ohio State staff earlier this fall.
Whalen’s jersey No. 13 is retired by both the Lynx and the Gophers. She guided the Lynx to four WNBA titles during her playing career on teams all coached by Reeve. Whalen was a five-time All-Star in nine seasons in Minnesota after starting her WNBA career with Connecticut.
She played in 480 regular season games, winning 323 (second most behind Sue Bird in league history) and won 54 postseason games (second in league history behind Brunson’s 57.) Whalen won Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2012 and 2016.