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Lindsay Whalen Chat Transcript
All season long, Tuesdays mean WNBA action on ESPN2. This Tuesday, July 17, the season's second half will kick off with what promises to be an entertaining doubleheader, with Connecticut hosting Minnesota before Seattle battles the Mercury in Phoenix.
The Sun appear to have righted the ship after a dismal start to 2007. Now just two games under .500, Connecticut is back in playoff contention and hoping to continue the success it had on the West Coast, where it won the last three games of its four-game swing.
Point guard Lindsay Whalen was a major factor in the Sun's huge road wins. Most recently, she sent their game against Sacramento into overtime with a basket in the final seconds of regulation before finishing with 22 points and eight assists in the 82-78 victory.
Can Whalen and the Sun maintain their hot play in the season's second act and become a title contender? Whalen answered that and other questions when she stopped by to chat with fans on WNBA.com Tuesday prior to the team's clash with the Lynx.
Lori, Quaker Hill,CT: How did your recent road trip help with the team's confidence? Are spirits high for a home win tonight?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:39 AM ET ) The road trip definitely helped our confidence. We're feeling good right now. We struggled at home this season so we need to feed off that home energy and get a win tonight.
Ryan : Lake Mary, Florida: What are you and your team's plans for the second half of this season in order to make the playoffs?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:40 AM ET ) We need to carry the momentum from our west coast road trip and continue to get better everyday. We're in fourth place right now, so we need to try to move up and keep that four spot. We need to take it one game at a time and continue to get better as a team.
Kevin in Indianapolis: Lindsay, I'm a Fever fan, but I love your game. The Sun always seem to give the Fever trouble - talk about that rivalry, and how the two teams matchup. Who's the tougher opponent for the Sun - Fever or the Shock? Thanks.
Lindsay Whalen: (11:42 AM ET ) I think its a great rivalry with the Fever. We met in the playoffs two years ago. This season we came out and played two of our most aggressive and best games of the season. They are a good team, they have a couple All-Stars. As far as the Fever and the Shock, it's a toss up, Both of those teams give us problems. They're pretty close to each other and they're both great teams. In the playoffs whoever makes it through will have to play one of those teams. But that is what you want, you want to play great teams like that.
Darby (Torrance, CA): Are you disappointed that you did not make it to the All-Star Game this year?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:43 AM ET ) Obviously it's a great game to be a part of playing against the best. At the same time I got to go home and see my family so it's a win-win situation.
Tiffany B, Los Angeles, CA: Lindsay, First off let me applaud you for your outstanding leadership as a consistent and dominant point guard on the Sun... I know that you are getting married soon [congrats!!!]. How does planning for the wedding fit into your schedule as a competitive WNBA player and how do you think it will affect your ability to help your team make a powerful push for playoff contention and hopefully, a championship?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:44 AM ET ) You just have to have time management. My family back home has been really helpful with a lot. We got a lot of planning done this winter. There's a lot to do but it's coming along nice. It's all about balancing things.
Easton, Mass.: One-on-one between you and Katie Douglas, who would win?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:44 AM ET ) That's tough because we've never played one-on-one. Best guess is that it would be a good game. It would be close.
Joppatown, Maryland: Hi Lindsay, who are some of the other point guards you looked up to as you were growing up?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:46 AM ET ) Kevin Johnson from the Phoenix Suns. It's hard because when I grew up there was no WNBA. John Stockton is another one. In the WNBA its players like Sue Bird, Ticha Penicheiro, Becky Hammon, players that have been in the league before me that I watched in high school and college. It's good to see players like Lindsey Harding come up and keep up the great point guard play in the league.
TIffany (the next taurasi) Bedford, OH: HEY LINDSAY!!! I am a point and shooting guard and I was wondering what you think are the most important qualities to have to play those positions.
Lindsay Whalen: (11:47 AM ET ) For point guard you have to have good leadership skills, be vocal, be able to handle the ball, pass the ball to people in the right spots. As shooter you have to have good footwork and know the spots that you shoot the best and know how to get open. Those are the main things for playing the point or the two.
Houston,Texas: Who is your favorite teammate?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:49 AM ET ) I like everyone on the team, but I'd probably go with KT. We have the whole Ricky Bobby "Shake and Bake" thing going and we're roommates, so I'd go with KT.
Whalen_Fan_In_Oregon: I am a huge fan of yours Lindsay and I have been since your college days. Congrats on the engagement -- I am very happy for you. My question is, how was it like dealing with the ankle injury last year and the nose injury this year? Thanks.
Lindsay Whalen: (11:50 AM ET ) With any injury, first you have to see if you can play with it and be effective. Second you have to rehab it. The nose wasn't too bad, just had to wear the mask and get used to it. The ankle last year, I had surgery last January and started playing again in May, so that was tough.
Bonita, California: Hi Lindsay, I'm a big fan. Which three songs get the most play on your iPod?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:51 AM ET ) Right now I'd say A-Bay-Bay. I usually just shuffle it after that.
Hillary Sparta, NJ: You are such an inspiration to me. What do you do to prepare for your games in terms of your daily routines? Good luck with your wedding!
Lindsay Whalen: (11:52 AM ET ) First of all, thanks. We have shootaround in the morning. Today I'm going to have scrambled eggs with some bacon or sausage and some fruit and yogurt. Get a good meal, a two or three hour nap. Then I watch any tapes that our video guys have for us and read the scouting report. Then I get a snack, head to the arena and get ready to play the game.
Old Greenwich, CT: How much of an advantage do you feel you have playing in an arena like the Mohegan Sun? It's seems so much homier and louder than many of the other arenas, doesn't it?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:53 AM ET ) It's a great place for the fans that we draw. Our staff does a great job with game preparation and getting the fans excited. We have great fans. It's a great advantage for us.
Adelmo Pereira - São Paulo - Brazil: What do you think about the WNBA's summer season? Would you like to see a future change to a winter league like NBA/NHL and the European leagues? Finally, I adore you, I think you a fantastic player.
Lindsay Whalen: (11:54 AM ET ) Thanks. I think right now the WNBA is in a good spot with the schedule. It works for what we need. Right now it is fine where it's at.
Colleen: Niskayuna, NY: What advice would you give to upcoming women's basketball players who hope to be successful in the game?
Lindsay Whalen: (11:55 AM ET ) Try to play as much as possible. Go to a lot of open gyms and rec centers and play against a lot of players. That's what I did. I played a bunch of games. Working on your individual game is important, but it's good to play in a game environment as much as possible.
Lindsay Whalen: (11:56 AM ET ) I just want to say thanks to everyone that wrote in and thanks for checking in on the Sun. I'm looking forward to the second half of the season and I hope everyone is watching.
