--- title: Prince Rocked The Sports World Too description: Whether offering private concerts to teams, or writing fight songs, the legend left his mark in the sports world. canonical: https://time.com/4304366/prince-dead-sports-wnba-basketball-minnesota-lynx/ author: Sean Gregory article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-22T07:19:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T16:57:28.104Z article:section: Sports og:title: Prince Rocked The Sports World Too og:description: From giving free private concerts to teams to writing fight songs og:url: https://time.com/4304366/prince-dead-sports-wnba-basketball-minnesota-lynx/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4f2192de27f42e93/6988904df887dc17c3e95919/gettyimages-73338786.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: GettyImages-73338786 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Prince Rocked The Sports World Too twitter:description: From giving free private concerts to teams to writing fight songs twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4f2192de27f42e93/6988904df887dc17c3e95919/gettyimages-73338786.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Prince Rocked the Sports World, Too > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.  by [Sean Gregory](https://time.com/author/sean-gregory/)  ## Sean Gregory Senior Correspondent Apr 22, 2016 7:19 AM UTC  Prince performs during the "Pepsi Halftime Show" at Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Prince performs during the "Pepsi Halftime Show" at Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.Jonathan Daniel—2007 Getty Images  by [Sean Gregory](https://time.com/author/sean-gregory/)  ## Sean Gregory Senior Correspondent Apr 22, 2016 7:19 AM UTC A third WNBA title, in five seasons, was a sweet enough prize for Minnesota Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen, who grew up west of Minneapolis and starred for the University of Minnesota in the early 2000s. But that evening’s revised post-title party plan, says Whalen, “brought the excitement to a whole other level.” Back in October, Prince unexpectedly showed up to Target Center in Minneapolis to watch the fifth and deciding game the WNBA Finals, between the Lynx and the Indiana Fever. The Lynx won, 69-52, to clinch the series. The pop icon, who died on April 21, at 57, approached a Lynx staffer with an incredible offer. The players, plus a guest, were invited to his Paisley Park compound for a private concert. That evening. A party bus would take them there. Lynx staffers could come too; they just had to drive themselves, and turn their headlights off when they entered the estate. No cell phones allowed. When Whalen and her husband showed up, Prince was playing the piano near the front door. He played “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” “1999,” and some new stuff. He played different instruments throughout the evening — guitar, keyboards, drums. He played until 4 am; a few Lynx players and coaches danced on stage. “Here we were, watching a legend perform at his house,” says Whelan. “We were all so, so, happy. We got to feel like a rock star.” Prince’s relationship with the sports world was like the legendary recording artist himself — equal doses weird and thrilling. He played basketball [growing up](http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/jxkrkbw7ipefkghvxcgk.jpg) in Minneapolis. “Though music was his calling, Prince mostly hung around with the jocks at Bryant Junior High and Central High,” the _Minneapolis Star Tribune_ [wrote](http://www.startribune.com/the-real-story-behind-prince-s-junior-high-basketball-photo/295046261/) in 1984\. Prince played football, basketball and baseball. In the ninth grade, according to the paper, “he even coached a grade school basketball team at church.” “Prince was excellent player; he was like the sixth or seventh man,” his high school coach told the _Star Tribune_. “He was an excellent ball handler, a good shooter and very short (5 foot 2). Probably with a different group of people he would have been a starter. But, as they turned out, they were probably the best ball team that ever came along at Central. I knew he wanted to be starting and felt he should be starting. He was unhappy and expressed that many, many times.” When he wasn’t giving impromptu concerts to pro basketball players, Prince was redecorating their houses — even when not asked. In 2004, former NBA player Carlos Boozer rented out his West Hollywood mansion to Prince. According to a [2011 article](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-carlos-boozer-prince-house-20160421-story.html) in the Chicago Tribune: --- > “” --- Boozer’s lawyers dismissed the suit, and Boozer hung out with Prince in New York in the summer of 2010\. “We had a good time at a lounge,” Boozer said. “He’s a great dude. He’s very humble. He has a great spirit about him.” Boozer posted a [tribute on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BEeJIUvLKC8/) after Prince’s death. Many other athletes and teams joined him. > [](https://twitter.com/lindseyvonn/status/723203519654727681) > [](https://twitter.com/MagicJohnson/status/723206972439322624) > [](https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/723220690694860801) > [](https://twitter.com/Twins/status/723211958682419200) After watching the Minnesota Vikings crush the Dallas Cowboys, 34-3, at the Metrodome in a 2010 playoff game, Prince recorded a Vikings fight song, “[Purple And Gold.”](http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/%5F/id/18649/prince-penned-purple-and-gold-fight-song-for-vikings-in-2010) (Alas, [it was no hit](http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/%5F/id/25449/purple-and-gold-prince-writes-new-song-for-vikings)). Prince also delivered [one of the greatest](http://time.com/4303610/prince-death-super-bowl-halftime-show/) Super Bowl halftime performances in history, when he sang “Purple Rain” in the[ pouring Miami rain](http://pix11.com/2016/04/21/watch-prince-performs-purple-rain-at-super-bowl-xli-2007/) in 2007\. And, as part of a Minnesota Twins clubhouse ritual, the rookies had to[ learn the words ](https://twitter.com/Twins/status/723255640034930688)to “Little Red Corvette.” With Minnesota particularly distraught over Price’s death, Whalen, the Lynx guard, keeps thinking about the private championship concert in October. “It didn’t seem real at the time,” she says. “And looking back, now that he’s gone — it’s just sad.” Sports lost a favorite fan. 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