Whalen played college basketball at the University of Minnesota, and led the team to its only NCAA tournament Final Four appearance in 2004.

[2] Whalen won two World titles and two Olympic gold medals with the United States women's national basketball team, as well as four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx.

The University of Minnesota women's basketball program rose to national prominence during Whalen's college career.

[8] She became Minnesota's all-time leading scorer on January 25, 2004, against Michigan State, surpassing 1994 Wade Trophy Winner Carol Ann Shudlick.

Whalen's jersey number 13 was raised to the rafters, though not officially retired, by the University of Minnesota during a ceremony in January 2005 at Williams Arena.

Until 2005 when Minnesota teammate Janel McCarville was selected at number 1, she was the highest drafted WNBA player ever from the Big Ten Conference.

The Minnesota Lynx made an unsuccessful pre-draft trade, sending Sheri Sam and Janell Burse to the Seattle Storm for Amanda Lassiter and the 6th pick in the draft in an attempt to get hometown hero Whalen.

In her rookie season, she was selected to play in the historic WNBA vs. USA Basketball game at Radio City Music Hall.

On January 12, 2010, Whalen was traded to her native team, the Minnesota Lynx in a deal that also involved Renee Montgomery.

She signed a multi-year contract extension with the Minnesota Lynx prior to the team's August 12, 2010 matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks.

[11] In 2011, with a supporting cast of Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Renee Montgomery and rookie Maya Moore, Whalen helped lead the Lynx to its first WNBA Championship.

Playing alongside a healthy Seimone Augustus and rookie sensation Maya Moore, Whalen led the WNBA in assists with 5.9 per game.

In 2013, the Minnesota Lynx acquired the rights to Janel McCarville via a three-team trade, and she and Whalen were reunited as teammates.

On September 7, 2013, Whalen became only the second player in WNBA history to record 4,000 points, 1,500 assists, and 1,000 rebounds in her career, joining Becky Hammon.

The Lynx were up against the Los Angeles Sparks, making it the second time in league history where two teams from the same conference faced each other in the Finals due to the new playoff format.

The game winning shot came down to Whalen, who with 3 seconds left passed the ball to Rebekkah Brunson off the inbound, immediately passing the ball back to Whalen, who then dribbled up to half court and missed the game winning shot attempt from half court as it hit the top of the backboard and missed the rim.

[20] The Lynx defeated the Washington Mystics in a 3-game sweep, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in seven years, setting up a rematch with the Sparks.

Whalen wanted to retire in March 2018 but stayed on after a four-hour telephone conversation with Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.

[21] She earned the head coaching job at the university in April, so her dual responsibilities resulted in a season that The New York Times called juggling and "emotional whiplash.

Several players shared scoring honors, with Swin Cash, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Whalen, and Sylvia Fowles all ending as high scorer in the first few games.

[25] Whalen was named by the USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Selection Committee to compete for the US at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

In April 2018, Whalen was hired as the new head women's basketball coach at her alma mater, the University of Minnesota.

On March 2, 2023, Whalen was fired as head coach following Minnesota's first round loss to Penn State during the 2023 Big Ten women's basketball tournament.

Whalen married Ben Greve, an insurance advisor and former Minnesota Golden Gophers golfer, on October 6, 2007.