SAN FRANCISCO — When Valkyries’ rookie level guard Kaitlyn Chen first noticed Jeremy Lin, she wasn’t rooting for him.
Chen, a Pasadena native, was in third grade when she watched Lin torch her hometown Los Angeles Lakers for 38 factors throughout the top of the Palo Alto Excessive alum’s “Linsanity” run.
However wanting again on that second, Chen has a deep appreciation for Lin’s affect on her and the remainder of the Asian American basketball group.
Golden State Valkyrie’s Kaitlyn Chen (2) and Kaila Charles (6) pose for {a photograph} with former NBA participant Jeremy Lin after their WNBA recreation at Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 99-62. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Lin, 37, introduced his retirement on Saturday simply moments earlier than the Valkyries’ recreation towards the Washington Mystics. Whereas recognized for his legendary two-week stretch throughout the 2011-2012 season, Lin carved out a nine-year NBA profession that included profitable a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
He signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2010 as an undrafted free agent and performed with the Santa Cruz Warriors throughout the 2020-2021 season.
“As athletes, we are always aware that the possibility of retirement is never far away. I’ve spent my 15-year career knowing that one day I would have to walk away, and yet actually saying goodbye to basketball today has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Lin, 37, mentioned in an Instagram put up on Saturday.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to compete against the fiercest competitors under the brightest lights and to challenge what the world thought was possible for someone who looks like me. I’ve lived out my wildest childhood dreams to play in front of fans all around the world. I will forever be the kid who felt fully alive every time I touched a basketball.”
The previous Harvard standout was in Chase Middle to witness the Valkyries demolish the Mystics, and bought a standing ovation when launched to the 18,064 followers inside Ballhalla.
Former NBA participant Jeremy Lin stops to pose for a selfie with a fan throughout the WNBA recreation at Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 99-62. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
In that two week stretch, Lin landed on the duvet of Time Journal and was on Sports activities Illustrated in back-to-back weeks. Lin turned an in a single day sensation because the Knicks’ level guard.
It’s been 13 years since Linsanity, however Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase continues to be in awe pondering of Lin’s affect.
“He was doing things I’ve never usually seen Asian Americans don’t tend to do, and that’s just kind of take on the world of sports and to impact in so many ways” Nakase mentioned. “I met him at All-Star a pair months in the past earlier than the season began, and we bought to attach. And simply listening to his story and the truth that he will get to share a lot about all his ups and downs via what he went via, I feel that’s so courageous. I feel that’s actually inspiring for me, simply to see somebody open up about primarily the lows. He was very open about it.
“I really took that on as like, ‘Wow. If Jeremy, can do it. Maybe I can do that too.”
“I definitely see myself getting into this space. To what degree or what that role looks like, I don’t know,” Lin mentioned. “However I’ll for certain be pouring into the following technology and sharing my ideas. Hopefully, I can import some knowledge.
