Lindsay Whalen

It's a loftier ranking than preseason polls released by media and coaches in the Big Ten.

She'll be the first Lynx player to have her jersey hang from Target Center's rafters.

Minnesota is now 20-11 on the season.

Both are in action Thursday night.

Minnesota should be in the tourney projections over Purdue and Indiana.

Minnesota still has a chance to make it to the Big Dance.

Seven losses in eight games hurt Minnesota's tourney chances.

The 13th-ranked Gophers crushed Coppin State by 32 points.

It's their highest ranking in more than a decade.

Gophers should continue their climb in the top 25.

It's the first time in three years that the Gophers have been ranked.

They broke the record set during Whalen's senior season as a player.

The Gophers host New Hampshire in the season opener Friday night.

Of course Whalen is friends with a superstar like Wade.

Whalen will now focus solely on coaching the Gophers.

Minnesota takes on the Sparks on Tuesday night.

The Lynx wrap up the regular season on Sunday, Aug. 19.

Whalen announced that she'll retire at the end of the season.