MINNEAPOLIS - On Sunday, it's all about Lindsay.
That's when homegrown hoops star and Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen will take the court at Target Center against the Connecticut Sun for her final regular season game. Whalen announced earlier this week that she will retire at the end of this season, so the Lynx will honor her with a ceremony in front of what promises to be a raucous home crowd.
That's not the only salute she'll get.
Governor Mark Dayton is proclaiming Sunday as "Lindsay Whalen Day" across the state.
“Lindsay Whalen is a phenomenal champion and an inspiration to sports fans here in Minnesota and across the country," Dayton said in a released statement. "Throughout her career, she has shown exceptional talent, determination, teamwork, and leadership. It has been a thrill to watch Lindsay and the Minnesota Lynx win four WNBA championships. I look forward to following her continued success as the University of Minnesota Women's Basketball Coach. Congratulations, Lindsay. Minnesota is enormously proud of you!”
Xcel Energy will also offer a gesture of thanks to Whalen on Sunday, turning the lights at a pair of substations Lynx blue in her honor.
A Hutchinson native, Whalen starred for her local high school program, then helped lead what was a once struggling Gophers women's basketball program to the NCAA Final Four. She was drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the first round, led that club to two WNBA Finals appearances, then was traded to her home state Lynx. All she's done her is win four WNBA Championships en route to becoming the winningest player in league history.
Whalen will take her talents and high hoops IQ to the University of Minnesota as the program's new head coach in time for the 2018-19 season.
