College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America Team

University of Minnesota, Class of 2006
• 2003 Women's Basketball Third Team Academic All-America®
 

Whalen is the most decorated player in Minnesota history, a career that spanned 2002-04. She was the school’s first three-time All-American selection, and a two-time Wade Trophy and Naismith Award finalist. A three-time unanimous All-Big Ten first-team pick, Whalen was the 2002 Big Ten Player of the Year. When she finished her collegiate career, Whalen was Minnesota's all-time points leader with 2,285 points. She guided Minnesota to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and led the Gophers to the program’s only NCAA Women’s Final Four appearance in 2004. Her No. 13 jersey was retired by Minnesota in 2005. During Whalen’s collegiate career, Minnesota's average attendance rose from 1,087 her freshman season to 9,866 when she was a senior. She was a two-time Minnesota recipient of the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award.

Whalen graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. She was named a CSC Academic All-American in 2003 and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Whalen was selected fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She played 15 seasons with the Sun and the Minnesota Lynx, was a four-time WNBA champion with Minnesota and a five-time WNBA All-Star. Whalen was named to the “W25” as one of the 25 greatest players in WNBA history in the league’s 25th season. She was a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S., winning at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Upon retirement in 2018, Whalen was named the 12th head women’s basketball coach at Minnesota, and recently stepped away from coaching.

She has donated her time and talents to several organizations focused on youth development such as the Timberwolves Lynx Basketball Academy and Athletes Committed to Educating Students (ACES). She previously served on the board of directors for former coach Pam Borton’s Empower Leadership Academy for Girls, and participated in the Minnesota Lynx’s Day of Service initiative, including celebrating the team’s 2017 WNBA title by helping at a Samaritan’s Feet Shoes of Hope distribution in Washington, D.C. As head coach of the Gophers, Whalen organized an annual Dimes for December campaign, raising money to buy gloves, hats, blankets, socks, scarves, and jackets to help the homeless and underprivileged families in the community.

 

Updated June 2023