The biggest changes for the Minnesota Lynx this off-season seem to be coming off the court.
The WNBA Finals runner-ups made two big hires on Saturday, bringing in franchise legend Lindsay Whalen as an assistant coach and former Mystics head coach Eric Thibault as an associate head coach to help out reigning coach of the year Cheryl Reeve.
After losing in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to the New York Liberty, associate head coach Katie Smith left for Ohio State and general manager Clare Duwelius joined the Unrivaled league.
“I am excited to add both Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “Eric has vast experience coaching in the WNBA as both a head and an assistant coach and is a WNBA champion. Lindsay adds a unique perspective as a Lynx legend and Naismith Hall of Famer. I look forward to working with both in our quest for another WNBA championship.”
Whalen, 42, is a Hall of Fame point guard who made her biggest marks playing for the dynastic Lynx of the 2010s, helping them to four WNBA titles from 2011-2017. She retired from the game in 2018 with four championship titles, five All-Star, five All-WNBA and three assist leader titles to her name.
"It just feels like it's time to get back, work hard and be a part of a team and a group," Whalen told Philippou. "It just all felt like the timing was really right."
She averaged 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in 480 regular season appearances over 15 years between Minnesota and the Connecticut Sun. She was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
Prior to joining the Lynx, Whalen spent five seasons coaching the NCAA's Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2018-2023, earning a 71-76 record before being fired.
“I’m so excited to be back with the Lynx and back with Coach and Becky (Rebekkah Brunson),” Whalen said. “Eric and I have also known each other for a long time, and for me, I couldn’t imagine joining a better staff as I return to coaching and get my first opportunity to coach in the WNBA."
Thibault, meanwhile, was one of the seven WNBA coaches fired this off-season. He was let go by the Washington Mystics following his second season in the head role, leading the team to a 14-26 record and fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
His father, Mike Thibault, is a well-renowned former WNBA coach. He spent 20 seasons in the league, winning coach of the year three times and taking home the championship in 2019 with the Mystics. Before taking the head job in Washington, Eric worked under his father from 2013-2022.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Cheryl’s staff and to be part of the Minnesota Lynx organization,” Thibault said. “The players and staff have built an incredible winning culture, and I’m excited to do my part as we pursue a WNBA championship.”
According to Philippou, Reeve said that Thibault has a "great feel" for the type of basketball she wants her team to play in Minnesota, as her five-out offence is similar to the one he ran in Washington.
"The Thibaults and the Whalens have always been very tight," Thibault told Philippou. "Now we get to put our heads together and try to help Cheryl and the Lynx get back to being champions."
-- with files from the Associated Press
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