When it comes to the NCAA Women's Final Four and Minnesota, the first thing that comes to mind is Lindsay Whalen's memorable run with the Gophers in 2004. It was a run that inspired fans and a generation of young ballplayers in the state.
Whalen is now the coach of the Gophers and has hopes of reaching the Final Four again. Regardless of her team's success, the Women's Final Four and Minnesota will hook up again, this time as event host. The 2022 Final Four will be held at Target Center in Minneapolis, the NCAA announced Monday.
"It's huge," Whalen said. "I got to play in a Final Four. I know what that represents and what that means to a state."
Whalen was running practice as the new head coach Monday when she received a text message from her director of basketball, Melissa Maines. Whalen's response: "Let's gooooooo!"
Sharing that same enthusiasm a few miles away was Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle, who embraced other officials while celebrating the news at a viewing party across from the Target Center, which also served as the venue for the 1995 Women's Final Four.
The 2022 Final Four also will honor the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
"What better way to celebrate that huge achievement than doing it right here in Minneapolis," Frey said. "And if we can hopefully get Lindsay Whalen to cut the nets at the end of the Final Four, I think it would be a nice exclamation."
Coyle added to that optimistic thinking, adding "that would be a great story if it did come to fruition for us."
