“Defense leads to offense,” Napheesa Collier had stated, and she is truly living up to that. After the Minnesota Lynx clinched Game 1 of the WNBA Finals by making history against the New York Liberty, Phee’s toughest critic, basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes, is finally singing her praises. This is a moment to remember after years of questioning Collier’s defensive prowess.

Swoopes admitted that the 28-year-old star really delivered in the thrilling 95-93 victory for Minnesota. Host Jordan Robinson started the conversation by saying, “Napheesa maybe wasn’t scoring at a high volume, but the shots she did make felt like they were 10-point shots because of the timing.” And the Hall of Famer could agree more. “They were huge. Gosh, and they were tough shots,” Swoopes said on The Queen of the Court podcast.

After all, the game saw Collier nailing a game-winning jumper in OT, leading her team to victory. The 4× WNBA champion praised not just the 2024 DPOY but the entire defense that held the Liberty to 38% shooting. “You saw the Minnesota defense come alive in the second half, in the third quarter,” Swoopes asserted.

However, the Lynx’s Game 1 victory wasn’t just about individual heroics. The team rallied from an 18-point deficit, breaking WNBA playoff history by becoming the first team to come back from being down 15 with five minutes left. During the third quarter, they intensified their defensive efforts, leading to a significant turnaround. Minnesota held the Liberty to just 4-for-19 shooting and forced six turnovers, which contributed to a 12-1 run that helped them regain control of the game.

And undoubtedly, their power forward’s defense was a key part of that comeback. She finished the game with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 steals. Well, these numbers even prompted her biggest critic to appreciate her. Before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Swoopes had a long history of questioning Napheesa Collier.

Sheryl Swoopes’ critical lens on Napheesa Collier

In the past, there have been certain moments when Sheryl Swoopes had her doubts about Collier. Back in 2020, after a rough game against the Seattle Storm, Swoopes was straightforward, saying, “Napheesa has to play better on both ends of the floor. Her defense just wasn’t there tonight.” It wasn’t the first time, nor the last, that Swoopes critiqued Collier’s defensive game.

The biggest attack came in 2024 when the WNBA veteran wasn’t shy about questioning Collier’s DPOY win. “A’ja Wilson should’ve won,” she said on multiple occasions, pointing out that Wilson had better individual stats. She wondered aloud, “When awards are selected… are you looking at what that player does individually? Or how what that player does helps the team?” 

Despite ranking 2nd in steals 1.91 per game, 3rd in rebounds 9.7 per game, and 7th in blocks 1.41 per game in the regular season, the Lynx star won the 2024 DPOY. Hence, Swoopes believed Wilson’s stats—first in rebounds and blocks—should have secured her both MVP and DPOY.

However, the 2024 MVP definitely had better stats in key areas. But Collier’s all-around contributions couldn’t be ignored. The 53-year-old raised the point that “individual awards should reflect individual stats, not just team impact,” a subtle dig at Collier’s win.

Nevertheless, now, the 4× WNBA All-Star’s consistency on both ends of the floor, especially during this playoff run, has forced Swoopes to give her the credit she’s earned. With Game 2 approaching, the big question now is: can the Lynx keep the momentum going and put more pressure on New York? Or will the Liberty bounce back and level the series?