Lindsay Whalen!

Welcome to Piece Of Advice!

Good morning! Today we are introducing the first female athlete to be featured in our newsletter; WNBA Hall Of Famer, Lindsay Whalen!

Lindsay Whalen’s basketball journey is the stuff of legend; a hometown hero turned global icon who dominated every court she stepped on. Born and raised in Hutchinson, Minnesota, Whalen brought gritty determination and undeniable skill to the University of Minnesota, leading the Golden Gophers to their first-ever Final Four in 2004. Her fierce competitiveness and clutch performances didn’t just put her on the map; they transformed women’s basketball in the Midwest. Attendance skyrocketed. Suddenly, it was cool to watch the Gophers, and it was because of #13.

Drafted fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun, Whalen wasted no time showing the WNBA she meant business. In her first few seasons, she helped lead the Sun to back-to-back Finals appearances, earning a reputation as one of the smartest, toughest point guards in the league. But her return to Minnesota in 2010 to play for the Lynx lit a new fire. Teaming up with Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, and later Maya Moore, Whalen helped create a dynasty that would win four WNBA championships in seven years. Her leadership on and off the court was the glue that held the team together through battles, buzzer beaters, and banner-raising nights at the Target Center.

One of the coolest stories from Whalen’s career happened in 2013, when the Lynx were facing elimination in the Western Conference Finals. Down by 10 in the second half, Whalen took over; hitting back-to-back buckets, diving for loose balls, and rallying the team with her signature fire. They won, and she dropped a casual 21 points with 9 assists in the next game to send Minnesota back to the Finals. That was Lindsay: no fear, full throttle, and always clutch when it mattered most.

Off the court, Whalen’s influence only grew. She became the first female head coach of the Gophers women’s team while still playing in the WNBA; a historic double duty that inspired a generation. She juggled film sessions, recruiting, and game planning while still suiting up and dropping dimes for the Lynx. It was the ultimate example of her work ethic and love for the game. She wasn’t just building her legacy; she was lifting others up as she did it!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Lindsay Whalen: The best advice I’ve ever gotten is to be myself, work hard, and treat people how I wanted to be treated!

Thank you as always for reading and I hope you have the best week ever this week!

-Giancarlo