'04 Final Four team reunites

Six and a half years after a memorable Final Four appearance by the Gophers women’s basketball team, the group that brought women’s basketball in Minnesota to new heights was reunited.
The Lindsay Whalen-lead Minnesota Lynx hosted Janel McCarville’s New York Liberty on Sunday night, which was also University of Minnesota night at the Target Center. It was the first time the two Gophers women’s basketball icons faced each other in Minnesota, and the Lynx reunited most of the 2003-2004 Gophers team that made an improbable run to the Final Four as a No. 7 seed.
On the court, McCarville’s Liberty held off a late charge by Whalen, who came to the Lynx in an offseason trade this winter and had a team-high 18 points in the losing effort. However, it was the pre-game ceremony that resonated most meaningfully with the largest crowd since opening night.
The Lynx are in the midst of a battle for a playoff spot, but Gophers Night drew 9,016 people and was a bigger boon for attendance than most games, even those with playoff implications.
“I thought it was pretty amazing getting everyone back in one place,” head women’s basketball coach Pam Borton said.
Borton was in her second year as head coach in 2004, and led the team easily through the tournament’s first two rounds at the Metrodome, including a 19-point rout of No. 2-seeded Kansas State to reach the Sweet-16.
They beat 18th-ranked Boston College to reach the team’s first Elite Eight, and with 47 combined points from Whalen and McCarville, upset top-seeded Duke two nights later. Whalen, who handled the ball for most of the final minutes, hit the decisive lay-up with 56 seconds left, giving the Gophers a four-point lead en route to the 82-75 win
In front of a large traveling contingent of fans in New Orleans, the Gophers couldn’t get past Connecticut, another top seed and the eventual champions, but falling one game short of a national championship game hasn’t hindered that team’s legacy in Minnesota.
“I don’t think I’d trade a moment of it,” McCarville said. “Every day we rose to the occasion to achieve something great for this community, the state, and I was happy to be a part of it.”
Prior to Sunday’s game, the women were introduced one-by-one and received a bouquet and applause from the crowd, still cognizant of the 2004 team’s accomplishments.
Introductions concluded with McCarville and Whalen, who both received long and loud applause.
“It was great,” McCarville said. “I play for a different team now, but they still recognize what we did as collegiate players … I don’t think they look at me as a New York Liberty player; I’m still a Golden Gopher in most of their eyes. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
After tip-off, Whalen missed the game’s first shot and the rebound found its way into McCarville’s arms. Both players took center stage on the court and relished the chance to see and compete against an old friend.
“I like it,” McCarville said. “Before the games, it’s kind of all fun and games, but once the ball goes up, that all gets put in the background and you’ve got to play through it.”
Added Whalen: “We’ve played against each other so many times now, it’s always fun.”
The fans remember the exciting Gophers squad from years ago, but Sunday, the players got to pause for a moment and reflect on their accomplishments as well.
“You look back on your college years and your experiences, all the friendships that you have, how close our team was — especially throughout that [Final Four] run,” Whalen said.
Borton said the event has likely been in planning stages since the Lynx acquired Whalen with one of the biggest trades in WNBA history in January.
“You hope it’s not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because you obviously want to get back to the Final Four, but it was a special group of young women with a special chemistry,” Borton said. “There were some good feelings and great flashbacks.”
Along with Borton, Whalen and McCarville, every member of the 2004 team was present except Kadidja Andersson , Christina Collison and Liz Podominick.