Meet the 2010 Lynx: #13 Lindsay Whalen, guard

The first of a six-part series profiling the Minnesota Lynx roster as the 2010 season approaches. A new article will be posted on this site every day through May 9th. Players will go in the order they were interviewed during media day.

BY MIKE PEDEN

Many Minnesota women's basketball fans will point to Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen as the player who sparked their passion for the sport.

With the off-season trade that swapped her from the Connecticut Sun to her home state, those fans will finally get what they waited for: Whalen in a Lynx jersey.

Whalen, who averaged 12.3 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game with Connecticut last season, wasted little time living the home life once more.

"Just kind of relaxing (for) the last week," she said. "I went home, hung out with some friends a couple nights, took a couple days to rest and ran to Target and the grocery store to get set up."

Rest is a premium for Whalen and most other WNBA players this season. With most players recently returning from overseas commitments, the Lynx had few marquis players in their preseason game with the Chicago Sky. The Lynx had to reach their city neighbor, the University of Minnesota, to get enough players on the training camp roster.

Whalen is used to this quick turnaround.

"This is my 5th year coming back from overseas. You have to take care of your body, work on your stretching and eating right. All those things, you learn as you play a couple years overseas," she said.

Another list of things to learn for Whalen will be found in the Western Conference syllabi. Lessons will include dealing with Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury far more frequently than twice a year.

The midterm includes a slightly different playoff race in the West. The Sacramento Monarchs dissolved during the off-season and the Tulsa Shock took its place after relocating from Detroit.

"The talent level in the league is going to be extremely high this year with 12 teams," she said. "Every game is going to be tough."

Whalen was surprised to hear that another original WNBA franchise went under, but she has no concern about the loss affecting the caliber of play for 2010.

"With things that have gone on in the economy, it happens," she said. "We just have to focus on what you can do to help your team and making it a good product."

Whalen will bring a good product to a team that will begin the season without Seimone Augustus (fibroids) and Candice Wiggins (arthroscopic knee surgery). In addition to her point and rebound numbers, she finished 5th in the league in assists with 4.6 per game and committed a career-low 1.9 turnovers per game in 2009.

Her production should assist the Lynx as they wait for Augustus and Wiggins to recover, but Whalen believes everyone could benefit from their absence.

"When they come back, everyone will have played a bigger role and we'll be better," she said.