Lindsay Whalen to retire at end of season

When the 2018 season concludes for the Minnesota Lynx, it will also be the final season for one of the WNBA’s all-time greats.

Lindsay Whalen, who has to be on Minnesota’s Mount Rushmore of Sports, announced that she will, indeed hang up her jersey after the conclusion of the 2018 season.

Whalen has been a staple of the Lynx’s dynasty over the 2010s, guiding Minnesota to four championships in seven years. As she also is an alum of the University of Minnesota and has assumed a role as the Golden Gophers’ women’s basketball head coach, her imprint on Minnesota sports is indelible.

“I don’t know if you could have written a better story, a better script … and I feel so blessed to have been on the sideline and have had a great seat to all of that.” – @LynxCoachReeve on Lindsay Whalen's illustrious career pic.twitter.com/WgUofxuQ65

— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 13, 2018

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve talks about Lindsay Whalen.
"That sort of a relationship is one-in-a-lifetime." pic.twitter.com/H5J20bTseQ

— MPR News (@MPRnews) August 13, 2018

"It's been a wild ride and I feel like we've done it together."

Lindsay Whalen gives thanks to the fans pic.twitter.com/WGibwDxlX1

— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 13, 2018

In a broader sense, there is speculation that this could be phase one in an inevitable period of transition for the Minnesota Lynx. As one of the most veteran-heavy teams in the WNBA, it was inevitable that the notable faces and figures that made of their 2010’s dynasty would begin to depart one-by-one.

Lindsay Whalen announced she will retire from the WNBA at the end of this season.

Her resume includes:
– 4x WNBA Champion
– 5x WNBA All-Star
– WNBA's all-time wins leader
– 2,334 assists (3rd all-time) pic.twitter.com/SsL4KhwRvu

— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 13, 2018

Lindsay Legend. pic.twitter.com/XNZxdQRNwU

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 13, 2018

I remember being a middle schooler when Lindsay Whalen was making runs in the NCAA tournaments. No doubt she’ll go down as one of the greatest. pic.twitter.com/UaIhkbjYL8

— Derek James (@DerekJamesNBA) August 13, 2018

Congratulations on your retirement, Lindsay Whalen @Lindsay_13! We'll miss seeing you play on the @minnesotalynx but glad we'll still be able to catch you in action as the coach of the Gophers women's basketball team. @GopherWBB https://t.co/86luFmlCKX

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) August 13, 2018

The King has a point. 👑 pic.twitter.com/V0BfcsFofP

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 13, 2018

As the playoffs are set to begin in one week, only time will tell if Whalen has one more Lynx championship run in her before she enters her new role as Gophers head coach.