Cheryl Reeve and Lindsay Whalen believe now was the perfect time for Lynx reunion

Just as she was during their WNBA Finals run in October, Lindsay Whalen will again be coaching the Lynx from the sidelines next season only now in an official capacity.

The franchises all-time leader in assists and No.

1 fan in 2024 was announced as an assistant coach over the weekend and officially introduced on Monday.

Looking at clips of Whalen who won four titles as a player with the Lynx standing up from her courtside seat and shouting instructions to players during Minnesotas run to the WNBA championship this fall made head coach Cheryl Reeve smile.

To see someone being in the stands like Lindsay, that had walked the walk, that had been through all of that, Reeve said, to see her have joy watching the game of basketball, and (know) that we brought that to her, thats what was really special.

Whalen loved everything about how the 2024 Lynx played and operated, to the point that she was convinced by star forward Napheesa Collier to fly to New York for Game 5 of the finals.

Throughout the postseason, Whalen noted, she would text back and forth with other prominent members of the dynasty Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustus about last seasons team, and she enjoyed being the on-site representative to demonstrate the admiration shared by the franchises legends.

This team was so fun to watch because of just how they played, and how you could just feel either through the TV or watching the games there was just this energy and chemistry, Whalen said.

It was inspiring.

And they did things the right way.

All of that seems to have contributed to Whalens decision to jump back into the coaching ranks and take on the challenge of helping the Lynx complete the mission they nearly accomplished two months ago of winning the first post-dynasty title.

Im thrilled, very excited for the opportunity, she said.

I cant wait to work with all of the players, to get to know everybody even better.

Frankly, its all Whalen has thought about for the past month as discussions began and the possibility looked more and more realistic.

It will be two years in March since Whalen was let go by the University of Minnesota after five seasons spent leading the Gophers womens program.

The chance to coach at her alma mater came directly on the heels of her retirement as a hall of fame point guard.

She jumped from one thing to the next without breaking stride.

In that way, the past two years have been nice for Whalen, who had time to play tennis, golf, spend time with family and friends and simply enjoy basketball without pressure.

Now shes ready to return in an official capacity.

You take it all in and get to the point where you just miss being in the gym so bad, Whalen said.

You just miss being at practice and at workouts.

Just having that time to really miss it, whereas before I just went right into the next thing.

So I think thats been positive.

Timing, Reeve noted, is everything.

And she firmly believes this is the right time for the two who built such a strong bond as head coach and point guard to coach together.

Reeve cited Whalens ability to work with players on the floor, much as current assistant Rebekkah Brunson, another key cog in the Lynxs dynastic run currently does.

Brunson can work with the bigs, and Whalen can head the drills with the guards.

Towards the end of the season, (Lynx point guard Courtney Williams) stopped listening to me, Reeve joked.

Now we have a coach (in Whalen) that you have to listen to.

...

How do you not? Reeve noted Whalen can help interpret the head coachs messages, but will also play a key role in making personnel decisions.

Whalen and new associate head coach Eric Thibault who spent the past two years as head coach of the Washington Mystics bring valuable head coaching experience to Minnesotas revamped staff.

You can feel Lindsays enthusiasm.

Its palpable, her passion, Reeve said.

To be on the court and to have somebody thats been there and done this like we have with Rebekkah Brunson at the lead guard position, I think, is going to be invaluable.

Briefly The Lynx will open the regular season in Dallas against the Wings on May 16.

Tip is set for 6:30 p.m.

The full schedule can be found at https://lynx.wnba.com/schedule..

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