News of former Gopher Lindsay Whalen's trade to the Lynx this week brought two general reactions from Minnesota sports fans: "Woo-hoo!" or "It's about time!" Whalen, the Star Tribune's 2004 Sportsperson of the Year, initially confused Michael Rand when a 12-digit number showed up on his Caller ID. But from her couch in Prague (she's currently playing overseas in the Czech Republic), Whalen answered his questions. Q Many local fans surely would have loved to have you on the Lynx from the start of your career, but I'm wondering if you feel like it was good to start elsewhere.

A I think it was a really good opportunity to learn and, right after the Final Four and college, to just live somewhere else a while and experience a different part of the U.S. and now playing overseas. I think it worked out for the best.

Q That said, did you imagine this day would come along at some point?

A I kind of always had thoughts that it would be really fun to come back and play. I was just never really sure if it would happen or if things would come together. Obviously when I was in Connecticut I was focused on what we were trying to accomplish, but in back of my mind I thought about it.

Q Do you think you could get out of a speeding ticket in Minnesota just by telling the officer that you're Lindsay Whalen and you're awesome?

A (Laughs.) I don't know about that, but it's hard to explain. I've been gone for a while, and I know what we were able to accomplish brought a lot of popularity. It's hard to really tell. That was five years ago now, but I think people still remember the time well.

Q Remember when you wound up and smacked Pam Borton on the butt during a game? Are you still doing things like that?

A (Laughs.) The game is still fun, and there's still camaraderie and chemistry. It's a little different than in college. You go to work with teammates every day, working hard, and the games are tense. But you have to have fun with it, too, and really enjoy what you're doing. People tend to do well when there isn't a ton of pressure.

Q As of noon Thursday, you have 2,106 Twitter followers. Your husband (ex-Gophers golfer Ben Greve) has 9. Just thought you might want to mention that to him.

A I'll definitely let him know (laughs). ... I Twitter ... er ... tweet during Vikings games and Twins games a lot, and a little about my basketball games. I don't really like to do "Hey, what are you randomly doing today?" I'm not doing anything earth-shattering.

Q A lot has changed here. I just want to warn you. Are you comfortable sharing the local sports spotlight with Brett Favre, and could you have ever imagined him in purple?

A No. All the years growing up cheering against him, I never thought we'd go into a playoff weekend with him as our QB. It's really cool, though. I was really for it all summer.

Q What's the best place to watch the Vikings while in the Czech Republic?

A We have the Sunday Ticket with DIRECTV, so we get that on our computer. A big game will be on a station here called ESPN America. From when I started going overseas in Russia four years ago to now, it's gotten so much better. It's amazing what we can get and stay in touch with everything on a daily basis.

Q It's a big game Sunday. I know you're a huge Vikings fan. Who wins and why?

A I gotta go with the Vikes. We have home field, we're 8-0 at the Dome. I think a really close game. The Cowboys are on a roll right now. I'm thinking like 34-27.