Final month, the Minnesota Lynx got here a possession wanting a WNBA championship.
Then, they noticed two key personnel depart the franchise in favor of different alternatives — assistant coach Katie Smith took a training position along with her alma mater, Ohio State, whereas normal supervisor Clare Duwelius pivoted to turn out to be Unmatched’s normal supervisor.
However, the Lynx made a sequence of strikes to assist fortify Cheryl Reeve’s teaching employees. On Saturday, the group introduced two new assistant coach hires: former standout participant Lindsay Whalen and long-time WNBA coach Eric Thibault.
Whalen, a four-time WNBA champion with the Lynx who served as head coach on the College of Minnesota for 5 seasons, was a sideline staple all through Lynx’s Finals run, and now will formally rejoin the group in a brand new capability.
Eric Thibault, who served as head coach of the Washington Mystics earlier than fired earlier this fall, finds a brand new house within the WNBA.
“I’m excited so as to add each Eric and Lindsay to our teaching employees,” mentioned Reeve, who has served as the pinnacle coach of the Lynx since 2010. “Eric has huge expertise teaching within the WNBA as each a head and an assistant coach and is a WNBA Champion. Lindsay provides a novel perspective as a Lynx legend and Naismith Corridor of Famer. I look ahead to working with each in our quest for one more WNBA Championship.”
Thibault was let go by the Mystics after two seasons as head coach. Previous to that, he served as an assistant for 10 seasons, beneath his father, Mike’s, management.
Whalen, a franchise legend, hasn’t coached since 2023, when she accomplished a stint on the College of Minnesota.
Lindsay Whalen brings the attitude of a former participant
Lindsay Whalen was the purpose guard on 4 Lynx championship groups. For her profession, she averaged 11.5 factors and 4.9 assists per recreation. Her jersey was retired by Minnesota in 2019, and he or she was inducted into the Ladies’s Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2023.
Whalen shouldn’t be the primary former participant on the teaching employees; Rebekka Brunson, who was Lynx teammates with Whalen for 9 season — together with the 4 championships — has served as an assistant coach on the Lynx for 5 seasons.
“I feel it’s what makes us so distinctive at Minnesota; now we have individuals who’ve been via what we’re going via,” Collier instructed ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. “They gained so many championships within the place they’re teaching and we’re taking part in at now.”
Whalen was typically seen teaching up the Lynx from the sidelines as she sat courtside as video games all through the playoffs, even touring to New York for Sport 5.
She is likely one of the winngest participant in league historical past; she’s amassed 323 profession victories (second-most all-time behind Sue Fowl, 333) and 54 postseason wins (second-most all-time behind Brunson, 57). Whalen ought to assist elevate Courtney Williams, who successfully served because the Lynx’s level guard final season.
Eric Thibault brings intensive WNBA teaching expertise
Thibault’s roots with the Mystics are deep, and so is his understanding of the WNBA panorama.
“It was very clear the workforce continued to belief in what they have been doing, trusted one another, trusted the management of Eric,” Reeve mentioned to ESPN.
Whalen performed for Mike Thibault for six seasons on the Connecticut Solar, and their households have lengthy been intertwined.
“I’m so excited to be again with the Lynx and again with Coach and Becky [Rebekkah Brunson],” Whalen mentioned. “Eric and I’ve additionally identified one another for a very long time, and for me, I couldn’t think about becoming a member of a greater employees as I return to teaching and get my first alternative to educate within the WNBA. We now have a particular group with this workforce and I can’t wait to get to work.”
For these protecting monitor, Thibault turns into the second fired head coach to discover a new house within the WNBA. Curt Miller, who was let go by the Sparks, is the brand new normal supervisor of the Dallas Wings. (Stephanie White, who departed the Connecticut Solar on her personal accord, was named the brand new head coach of the Indiana Fever quickly after).
On the flip facet, Teresa Weatherspoon (Chicago Sky), Tanisha Wright (Atlanta Dream), and Latricia Trammell (Atlanta Dream) all have but to announce their subsequent strikes within the WNBA — if one is to return, that’s. Weatherspoon will probably be teaching in Unmatched in the course of the WNBA offseason, although that doesn’t preclude her from additionally getting concerned within the WNBA.
At a second by which so many groups are utterly rebuilding their teaching staffs, the Lyxn will profit from the continued management of Cheryl Reeve, one of the crucial embellished head coaches in WNBA historical past. On the identical time, the group very doubtless nailed their two assistant teaching hires, bringing in a former participant who has already showcased a significant reference to the gamers, whereas additionally hiring somebody with intensive and confirmed WNBA expertise. With nearly all of Minnesota’s core returning, Lindsay Whalen and Eric Thibault ought to assist bolster the Lynx’s title possibilities subsequent season.
