Lynx makes two crucial coaching moves after reaching WNBA Finals

The Minnesota Lynx reportedly made two coaching changes on Saturday. According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, the Lynx are hiring Lindsay Whalen as an assistant coach. Additionally, the team is hiring Eric Thibault as associate head coach.

Thibault was most recently coach of the Washington Mystics. However, the 37-year-old and the Mystics decided to part ways after the 2024 WNBA season. He expects to be a good fit with Cheryl Reeve’s coaching staff. The same goes for Whalen.

Whalen, 42, is very familiar with Minnesota, having played for the team from 2010 to 2018. Overall, Whalen played in the WNBA from 2004 to the 2018 season. She played in a total of five All-Star games in her career, four of them with the Lynx.

Whalen took the head coaching job for women’s basketball in Minnesota after her playing career. She will now return to the WNBA as associate head coach. Maybe one day she’ll get a head coaching role.

The Lynx reached the WNBA Finals last season. They played well and extended the series to five games. In the end, the New York Liberty won a thrilling series victory. Still, Napheesa Collier and the Lynx did their best against the Liberty, as New York had been the WNBA’s best team all season.

Minnesota is looking to return to a top spot in the WNBA Finals in the 2025 season. A reliable coaching staff is paramount, so Saturday’s announcement could prove crucial going forward. The Lynx have a bright future and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them contending for a championship again sooner rather than later.

It will be interesting to see what other moves they make in the offseason. The roster is already talented enough to win, but Minnesota could still be looking for improvements.