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Years ago
Erin P- your moment is here
Whalen has an ankle problem and Erin's big day is on the horizon
Whalen To Have Ankle Surgery
January 10, 2006
By LORI RILEY, Courant Staff Writer Over the course of her college and pro career, Connecticut Sun point guard Lindsay Whalen has had her share of high ankle sprains.
The latest occurred in the first game of the WNBA Finals against Sacramento, right after Whalen had fractured her knee in the second game of the Eastern Conference finals against Indiana.
Her left ankle never improved, and Whalen will have surgery today at the UConn Health Center to repair the ligaments and remove scar tissue.
She is expected to undergo rehabilitation for about four months, and could miss the start of the Sun's season, which begins May 20 against the New York Liberty at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Whalen had been in Russia, but never played for the Yekaterinburg team she signed with. She rehabilitated her knee and tried to get her ankle to come around. When the swelling subsided, she had an MRI and doctors determined she should have surgery.
"When we're expecting her back is a little up in the air," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "It depends on how fast she heals. She could be ready by training camp, probably more the last part of camp. The doctors have given us a range of 4-5 months. You know she'll do the work. I'm not concerned about that.
"If we don't [have her early], so be it. Better now than later on."
Thibault hopes to have a backup point guard for Whalen this season: Australia's Erin Phillips, who was drafted by the Sun last season but stayed home to play for her Australian team last summer. Phillips has told Thibault she will play for the Sun this season; the Sun protected her in the expansion draft.
