PRAGUE (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Lindsay Whalen gave herself a shot at making the USA squad for the FIBA World Championship with another solid season at ZVVZ USK Prague.
The slick-passing, penetrating and high-scoring playmaker averaged 15.6 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals – all team highs – as Prague reached the EuroLeague Women post-season again.
The 5ft 9in Whalen was so good that she was voted to the Rest of the World Team for the EuroLeague All-Star Game for the second time.
The best recognition of her efforts, however, came when USA Basketball announced that the 28-year-old had been included in their national team squad for 2010-12.
That means she has a chance to fight for one of the spots in the national squad that will go for gold at the FIBA World Championship in the Czech Republic this year.
The United States will take on France, Greece and Senegal in Group B, with those games to be played in Ostrava.
Whalen, who also plays in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx, gave this interview to Jeff Taylor for FIBA.com.
Congratulations on the recognition you received this year from USA Basketball, Lindsay. When you heard that you had been included in the USA national team squad for 2010-12, what was your first thought?
Whalen: I was just really honored, really excited for the chance to have the opportunity to play in the World Champs and the Olympics. I’m excited about the opportunity. There are some of the best players in the world on the team and there is a lot of prestige that goes with playing for Team USA because of the gold medals and the championships in the past, so it’s just an honor to be selected. I just have to keep working hard and hopefully make the final team.
At Prague, you play for Lubor Blazek – the coach of the Czech Republic national team. What’s he like?
Whalen: Our coach is great. He’s a great person, a great coach. I think he’s someone that everyone in the team gets along with well. He has a great relationship with all of the players and I’m happy to be working with him. It’s my third year and I’ve really enjoyed my time here.
Tell us about this season with Prague.
Whalen: I was happy with how I played. It was my third season in Prague and I feel like we have made important strides every season. Unfortunately we lost to (finalists) Ros Casares in the first round of the (EuroLeague Women) play-offs. We had hoped to go further, but we ran into a very strong opponent so that was tough. But we won the Czech Cup, so that was big. I don’t think anyone other than Brno had won that in 13, 14 years, so it was a really good win. It was a great game.
What are the demands like for a professional like yourself who plays not only in Europe, but also the WNBA? And what are the big differences between playing in the States and in Europe?
Whalen: I think the demands, you just have to take care of your body. You have to take your time. When you do get down time, you need to focus on staying healthy and being ready for the next season. The differences I would say, maybe the schedule we play in the WNBA – we play two or three games per week and maybe there’s more travel. Whereas at least in the Czech Republic, we play a EuroLeague game during the week and at the weekend, we’re at home or we take a bus and are relatively close to home. So I think the travel in the WNBA with the flights and the long days. As far as the style, both leagues are up-tempo, physical and strong talent. The EuroLeague is a great league and I’m just happy to on a team that is able to play against great teams and great players every week.
Is this whole experience overseas also about furthering your education as well?
Whalen: Yes, I would say so. I have taken up different languages, met people from all over the world, go to events the All-Star Game in Gdynia, Poland, where great players gather and it’s the kind of thing you wouldn’t think would ever happen in life. It’s pretty cool to thing that you get to go all these places and it’s a real honor to play in these games. I just want to enjoy it.
Going back to the FIBA World Championship, has there been much of a buzz about the event coming to the Czech Republic?
Whalen: Yes, there is a lot of discussion. Everyone is really excited. There are banners up in every gym you go into and the whole country is ready to host a big event in women’s basketball.
FIBA
