Lindsay Whalen: Bio, Net worth, Height, Age, Stats, Salary and More

Lindsay Whalen is a big name in the world of women’s basketball who did not succumb to the status of mediocrity and evolved over the years. Eventually, her understanding of the game became better, and she managed to take on the role of head coach and then assistant coach at the WNBA franchise Minnesota Lynx. In her playing days, surprisingly, despite her shortcomings on the scoring front, she managed to dictate the game on the court. Her playmaking abilities as a point guard established her among some of the best point guards in WNBA history.

The University of Minnesota’s basketball achievements have greatly benefited from the contributions of WNBA legend Lindsay Whalen. Her remarkable journey through the competitive landscape of basketball is truly inspiring. Let’s explore how Lindsay Whalen attained her esteemed position in women’s basketball.

Lindsay Whalen Personal Information

Lindsay Whalen has retired from the job of a generational basketball player. However, her journey in the field of basketball is far from over, as she continues to guide the young generation of ballers. Currently, she is in the role of assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx. But it is not just her overall WNBA recognition that has earned her this role. Her success as a coach stems from her international career and includes a set of Olympic gold medals and world titles. From the large courts of the WNBA to the passionate international courts, Lindsay Whalen has seen it all.

Lindsay Whalen Personal Life

Lindsay Whalen, was born on May 9, 1982, in Hutchinson, Minnesota. She is the oldest of five children to Neil Whalen and Kathy Whalen. Neil Whalen, her father, a hockey referee, and her siblings, Katie, Casey, Annie, and Thomas, all enjoy sports like she does. Her family had supported her full-fledgedly in his sporting career, and that was the main reason for her success. She married Ben Greve, a former golfer at the University of Minnesota and insurance agent, on October 6, 2007. Lindsay and Ben live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and they share common interests such as golf and traveling.

Lindsay Whalen Early Life

Lindsay Whalen was born on May 9, 1982, in Hutchinson, Minnesota and her full name is Lindsay Marie Whalen. She is the oldest of five children and has four siblings. Two of them are sisters named Katie Whalen and Annie Whalen, while the other two are brothers. The names of Lindsay’s brothers are Thomas Whalen and Casey Whalen. After showing interest in basketball and other sports, Lindsay Whalen attended Hutchinson High School in Minnesota. During her high school career, she achieved remarkable success in basketball, averaging nearly 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game as a junior. Whalen led her team to three consecutive conference championships and received four honorable mentions as an All-State player. In addition to basketball, she participated in track and tennis, earning All-Conference honors in those sports as well. While playing club basketball for the Minnesota Jaguars, she reached the state finals and won them. The club gained national recognition and was ranked among the top 20 basketball clubs in the nation.

Lindsay Whalen Parents

Lindsay Whalen's parents are Neil Whalen and Kathy Whalen and was born in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Whalen's father neil worked in a 3M plant in Hutchinson and other than that he was also working as a hockey referee. While, Whalen's mother Kathy worked as an administrative assistant. Her family was deeply rooted from Minnesota and had a strong sports influence inside their family. Lindsay, was the oldest of the five siblings, named Katie, Casey, Annie, and Thomas and they all grew up in a culture that supported athletic endeavors. Her father, Neil, was always in the favour of exposing her to sports and instilling in her the spirit of competition. With the support from the Whalen family and their joint passion for sports played an important role in Lindsay's path to become a basketball icon.

Lindsay Whalen Husband

The WNBA star married the love of her life from the University of Minnesota, an All-American golfer, Ben Greve, on October 6, 2007, in Hutchinson. Greve has been a multiple time winner of the Minnesota State Open and has played on the Canadian Tour also. He is currently an insurance advisor, splitting his time between his job and the game he loves to play. Both individuals share an affinity for sports and are supportive of each other's sporting careers. Whalen has gone with Greve to golf tournaments and even cheered for him and enjoys quality time together when traveling or playing. Their common passion for sports and support for each other have been the cornerstone of their relationship.

Lindsay Whalen Children

As of 2025, Lindsay Whalen and her spouse, Ben Greve, have not made a public announcement about having children. Their personal lives remain fairly private, and no official release or public record suggests that they are parents. Whalen remains committed to her basketball career, recently rejoining the Minnesota Lynx as an assistant coach in November of 2024. The pair seems to share a love for their common hobbies and professional pursuits, keeping their personal life out of the spotlight.

Lindsay Whalen Net Worth

Lindsay Whalen's total net worth is around $5 million, which she has earned from her successful basketball career, coaching assignments, and the endorsements which she got after getting famous. In those times, when she was the head coach of the University of Minnesota women's basketball program, Whalen's base salary was $547,000 for the 2022–23 season. She was scheduled to make $575,000 in 2023–24 and $600,000 in 2024–25 before resigning in March 2023. After she resigned, she was paid a $215,000 buyout according to her contract.
Whalen came back to the WNBA in November 2024 as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx. Although details of the salary for this role have not been released publicly, assistant coaching positions within the WNBA generally come with competitive salaries.
Aside from her playing and coaching career, Whalen has attained endorsement contracts, such as the one she signed with Bell Bank, adding even more to her net earnings.

Lindsay Whalen Contract

Lindsay Whalen was a top-notch talent in the league, so the pay she received from the franchise was expected to be handsome. Yet, there is no credible source citing Lindsay Whalen’s player salary. Rather, her coaching career is more in the limelight than her playing profile. That’s why, according to the Star Tribune, Lindsay Whalen, as coach, earned $547,000 in 2022-23, $575,000 in 2023-24, and $600,000 in 2024-25.

Unfortunately, she was fired, and that’s how she got paid a $215,000 termination fee.

Lindsay Whalen Salary

There is no specific information about Lindsay Whalen’s WNBA salary. However, according to CBS data, when she left the Minnesota Lynx as head coach, she received a $215,000 buyout that was included in her contract for termination without cause.

Lindsay Whalen Endorsements

Lindsay Whalen has been associated with Bell Bank’s location in Minneapolis City Center. She was honored with the title of Bell Bank Champion. The primary part of the agreement between Whalen and Bell Bank was that she would be featured in advertisements, events, social media, and customer greetings and meetings.

No credible source cites any numbers for Lindsay Whalen’s endorsement earnings. However, the Athlete Speakers have cited the range of Whalen’s earnings, mentioning that her endorsement fee range is $10,000–$20,000, $20,000–$30,000, $30,000–$50,000, $50,000–$100,000, or $100,000 or more.

Lindsay Whalen Instagram

Lindsay Whalen is a great basketball player who engages actively with her fans on Instagram through her verified Instagram handle, @lindsaywhalen. She has around 40,000 followers and over 878 posts, which shows posts about her existence as a basketball icon, coach, and Hall of Famer. She consistently posts highlights from her playing career, training experiences, and even personal experiences, providing a complete peek into her life. Whalen's Instagram is a means of engaging with fans as well as honoring her basketball legacy.

Lindsay Whalen Other Social Presence

Lindsay Whalen has an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) on her verified account, @Lindsay_13. She posts about her life, commentary on basketball, and personal thoughts, and also interact with her fans and the sporting community. On Facebook, she has an appearance request page, where fans and organizers can request her for speaker events, clinics, and other functions. These websites enable Whalen to reach out to her fans beyond the basketball court, relating to them and extending her impact into the world of sports.

Lindsay Whalen Career Stats

Whalen ended her career as Minnesota’s all-time points leader, as well as being second all-time in assists and third all-time in steals. A four-time all-state selection at Hutchinson High School, about an hour west of Minneapolis, Whalen went on to become the catalyst for the most successful seasons in the history of Gopher women’s basketball. She was the first three-time All-American in program history, a three-time All-Big Ten selection, and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. After a Sweet Sixteen appearance in her junior season (2002-03), Whalen led the Gophers to their only Final Four in program history in 2004. Other achievements she earned during her time are listed as follows, according to the WNBA:

• Led Minnesota to the NCAA tournament three straight years, including its first-ever Final Four appearance in 2004
• Two-time Naismith Award Finalist (2004,2003)
• Two-time Wade Trophy Finalist (2004, 2003)
• Average attendance at women’s basketball games grew from 1,087 during her freshman season to 9,866 during her senior year
• Finished career with 2,285 points, fifth-best in Big Ten history
• First Golden Gopher to earn All-American honors in three different seasons

• Named NCAA Mideast Region MVP for the 2004 NCAA tournament

  Here is the categorization of Lindsay Whalen’s WNBA performances over the years with the franchises as per ESPN:

Lindsay Whalen College Career

Lindsay Whalen's college career started at the University of Minnesota (2000–2004) and it was a turning point for the program. She set the school's all-time scoring record with 2,285 points and the first Golden Gopher to be an All-American three times. Whalen also guided Minnesota to its first-ever NCAA Final Four in 2004, greatly increasing the program's national visibility. Her No. 13 jersey was retired in 2005 in recognition of her enduring legacy on Gopher basketball.

Lindsay Whalen Achievements

Lindsay Whalen's professional basketball career is distinguished by many accomplishments on the college level, professional level, and international levels. During her time at the University of Minnesota (2000–2004), Whalen amassed 2,285 points and was named the school's all-time leading scorer. A three-time First Team All-Big Ten and All-America choice, and two-time finalist for both Wade Trophy and Naismith Award, Whalen took the Golden Gophers to their first NCAA Final Four in 2004.
Whalen's WNBA playing career lasted from 2004 to 2018, during which she played for the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx. She was a four-time WNBA champion with the Lynx (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and a five-time All-WNBA honoree. On retirement, she was the all-time leader in WNBA career victories.
Competing for the USA, Whalen won two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two FIBA World Championship titles (2010, 2014). Her influencing career led to her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. Whalen's legacy is also solidified by being named to the WNBA's Top list and The W25, honoring the league's best players.