On Monday afternoon, Cheryl Reeve introduced Eric Thibault and Lindsay Whalen to the Lynx coaching staff. After a glowing introduction of Thibault, Reeve turned her attention to Whalen.
“And Lindsay, you know what’s great is that towards the end of the season, Courtney (Williams) stopped listening to me,” Reeve said with a laugh as she directed her gaze to Williams, who was in attendance. “You have to listen to her. Look at all the great things they’ve said about her.”
The coaching duo joins Reeve’s staff to try and put the Lynx over the final hump. They replace outgoing associate head coach Katie Smith, who Ohio State signed as their head coach.
Thibault will get the nod as the new associate head coach, a title he held with the Washington Mystics before they named him head coach in 2023. He led the Mystics to a 33-46 record over two years before being let go as the Mystics looked to rebuild their franchise. Thibault led them to a 14-26 record last season despite the team losing its first 12 games.
Theoretically, Thibault should gel with Reeve and the Lynx’s principles. His Mystics team averaged the second-most three-point attempts in the WNBA and second in three-point percentage only behind the Lynx.
Thibault also prioritizes ball movement. The Mystics ranked third in assists per game despite ranking ninth in points per game. His three-point, ball-movement-focused philosophy aligns with the Lynx’s overall philosophy.
“I thought it was a seamless transition, in terms of what Eric brings to the table in terms of basketball knowledge, his love to be on the court with players,” explained Reeve, “and I think his overall vision for how the game should be played. So there were a lot of ways that I thought it was a perfect fit.”
On the other hand, Whalen may appear to have an obvious role with the team, given Reeve’s comments in jest regarding Williams.
“It’s not obvious to me what Lindsay’s responsibilities will be,” she said. “Lindsay is going to be out scouting. We’re all the decision-makers with regard to our roster… I think Lindsay has always had a thirst for the roster stuff, even as a player.“
Whalen will bring her Hall of Fame knowledge to the Lynx to help improve their roster. However, her history as the Gophers’ head coach from 2018 to 2023 will add to the Lynx’s scouting department. We should assume that her primary responsibility will be helping to elevate Williams and Kayla McBride’s backcourt play.
Williams expressed her excitement about having Whalen on staff after the press conference.
“If I need help or where I can be better, she has all the keys, so I’m excited to pick her brain,” Williams said. “I think it’s inevitable for me to take it up a notch when I have somebody like that.”
McBride echoed Williams’s excitement. “We played against her, and she was a dog,” she said. “She’s one of the best players to ever come through this league, so it’s cool to have her on our side for sure.”
Whalen is a four-time All-Star who ranks fifth in career assists. Hopefully, she will be able to share her knowledge with Lynx players. Perhaps she can help them improve their biggest blemish – the Lynx ranked eighth in turnovers last year.
In addition to bringing first-hand knowledge, Whalen also brings coaching experience from her time as the Gophers women’s basketball head coach. She amassed a 71-76 record and twice brought the Gophers to the WNIT tournament.
While the Gophers never made the NCAA tournament, Whalen improved their offensive rating and points per game averages over the four seasons while navigating the program through the difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in NIL rules. After her time with the Gophers ended, Whalen spent the last 18 months enjoying her time away from basketball before the opportunity to return home to the Lynx called.
Reeve closed the press conference praising both coaches. She listed their experiences as head coaches as their biggest attributes.
“For both of them their experiences that they had as head coaches is what I’m going to covet the most,” she said. “They have been in this seat. I always say some of the most valuable experiences you gain along the way is what not to do in life… so they will understand what’s needed and when.”
The Lynx finished 2024 just one overtime period away from raising a fifth banner. With Thibault and Whalen joining the coaching staff that already includes Rebekkah Brunson and Reeve, the staff now includes 16 championship rings among the four of them. As this current iteration looks to win one of its own, their experience on the sideline will be invaluable to the team, which is now motivated by coming so close to a fifth title last season.
