MINNEAPOLIS -- Lindsay Whalen is leaving home, to Minnesota's dismay and Connecticut's delight.

Taken by the Sun with the fourth pick in Saturday's WNBA draft, Whalen will spend her summer at the Mohegan Sun Casino (that's where the franchise plays, in Uncasville, Conn.) -- instead of in front of friends, family and Gophers fans at Target Center.

	Lindsay Whalen had hoped to remain in Minnesota. Instead, the No. 4 pick is headed to Connecticut.

"Obviously, I wanted to play in Minnesota, but I'm just excited to still be playing," Whalen said with typical nonchalance in a conference call from Seacaucus, N.J. That's where the draft, probably the deepest in league history, was held.

The Lynx tried hard to get the 5-foot-8 point guard from Hutchinson, realizing the impact she could have on attendance and interest in the team after the way the state rallied around Whalen's Gophers during their recent run to the Final Four.

The price proved too high for the Lynx, however, who have their own aspirations after making the playoffs for the first time last season.

They traded forwards Janell Burse and Sheri Sam to Seattle to get the No. 6 pick and forward Amanda Lassiter on Thursday, but they couldn't move any higher.

Chief operating officer Roger Griffith discussed deals with both Connecticut and Charlotte, which held the third selection. He said the Sun asked the Lynx for their two first-round picks -- Nos. 6 and 7 -- as well as two starters in exchange for the No. 4. The Sting wanted both of Minnesota's picks and a starter.

"We stated a while back that our objective was to put a competitive team on the court," Griffith said, "and we just don't see how giving up four starters for one would accomplish that."

Whalen, a second team All-American who became Minnesota's all-time leading scorer this season, filled a pressing need at point guard for the Sun. That's probably why they were so unwilling to give her up in a trade.

"She understands how to win," said Connecticut coach Mike Thibault, whose team advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season. "She's a competitor ... I think Lindsay will find out that she'll be adopted by our fans here quickly."

Exactly why Minnesota wanted her so badly.

"I give them credit ... the Lynx did everything they could," Whalen said. "Don't take it out on that team. They're a great franchise."

Training camp begins in a few weeks, so Whalen will finish up her degree at Minnesota in the fall once the WNBA season is over and graduate in December.

She knows everyone's disappointed, but she stressed that she's happy where she's at.

"You know, you've got to take it like you're getting a new job in a new city," Whalen said. "You just have to go for it."

Griffith and coach Suzie McConnell Serio fielded their share of Whalen questions in recent weeks, and the focus stayed there Saturday -- instead of on the Lynx's own picks.

But Minnesota realized the big picture, too -- it's all positive publicity for this fledgling sport. Griffith was asked if he'd go after Gophers center Janel McCarville just as hard next year, even though she's sure to be a top selection, too.

"If it brings more attention, you know what?" Griffith said. "We'll deal with it. If we do, it's worth it, because it's focus and attention on the game."

So what about those Lynx picks?

Nicole Ohlde -- the 6-foot-4 star of the Kansas State team that lost to the Gophers in the second round of the NCAA tournament went at No. 6. Vanessa Hayden -- a 6-foot-4 center from Florida -- went at No. 7.

Hayden, currently recovering from a broken ankle, was the Southeastern Conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Ohlde was a first team All-American.

"We felt that's the way we needed to go," McConnell Serio said. "This just gives us a lot of depth in the post area, which we needed."

The Lynx took Tennessee forward Tasha Butts in the second round and Boston College point guard Amber Jacobs and West Virginia guard Katie Bulger in the third round.

No Whalen, but they still like what they've got with All-Star Katie Smith, veteran point guard Teresa Edwards and forward Tamika Williams due back.

"I guess we're going to have the confidence in the women's basketball fans here that they can be disappointed but still cheer on two teams," Griffith said.