Lynx Bolster Coaching Staff With Additions of Whalen, Thibault

Lynx legend Lindsay Whalen and former Washington Mystics head coach Eric Thibault have been hired as additions to Cheryl Reeve’s coaching staff.

Following the departure of a few key individuals within the organization to begin the offseason, the Minnesota Lynx have made a few big-name hires to bolster their coaching staff.

Minnesota announced Saturday it has hired Lynx legend Lindsay Whalen and former Washington Mystics head coach Eric Thibault to Cheryl Reeve’s coaching staff.

Whalen, a Hall of Famer and Minnesota native, has been hired as an assistant coach, while Thibault has been added as associate head coach.

“I am excited to add both Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff,” Reeve said via a statement issued by the organization. “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 returns to the Lynx organization after recently spending five seasons as head coach of the University of Minnesota basketball program. Whalen, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, has been a strong supporter of the Lynx since her retirement in 2018.

In her time with the Lynx, Whalen helped lead the organization during its dynasty era that resulted in four WNBA championships to go along with her many record-breaking individual career accolades. One of the best to ever step on the court in WNBA history, Whalen is one of five Lynx players to have her jersey retired, the first player to have her jersey hung in the Target Center rafters following her retirement.

“I’m so excited to be back with the Lynx and back with Coach and Becky [Rebekkah Brunson],” Whalen said via a team statement. “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. We have a special group with this team and I can’t wait to get to work.”

Thibault, the son of the legendary Mike Thibault who initially drafted Whalen in Connecticut 2004, comes to Minnesota after spending the last two seasons as head coach of the Mystics. Prior to that, Thibault spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach in Washington before being elevated to associate head coach in 2019.

In his time in Washington, Thibault helped the Mystics to nine playoff appearances, including in one season as head coach, and was a key part to Washington’s 2019 WNBA title team which reached back-to-back WNBA Finals in 2018 and 2019. Thibault and the Mystics announced they “mutually agreed to part ways” following the 2024 season where Washington failed to reach the postseason.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Cheryl’s staff and to be part of the Minnesota Lynx organization,” Thibault said in a statement released by the team. “The players and staff have built an incredible winning culture, and I’m excited to do my part as we pursue a WNBA Championship.”

The pair of coaches, who will officially be introduced via a press conference on Dec. 2 at the Target Center Skyway Atrium in Minneapolis, will retool a Lynx coaching staff that has traditionally been very strong during Reeve’s tenure.

Now, the search — if Minnesota hires one at all — continues for a general manager to replace Clare Duwelius. And you can’t help but wonder if Eric Thibault’s dad decides to also join an organization he now has many ties to.