When the Minnesota Lynx lost Game 5 of the Championship Finale series against the New York Liberty this year, their star Napheesa Collier expressed “I think that loss is something I’ll never get over.” While she made her feelings clear only when the game was over, during the matchup, she couldn’t be seen upset, angry, sad, or even happy when they were scoring baskets. Building up to the Finale series, rumors were circulating that Collier didn’t have much emotions. While other things might not have moved her, it is these rumors that hurt her feelings.

On Friday’s episode of The Ringer WNBA Show, the Unrivaled’s founding member shared how she felt when rumors went viral among her fans.

“I can see it’s kind of hard for me to take anything personally. Especially when you’re playing emotions are so high and I know I don’t argue during the games like, I don’t lose my cool very often but when I do it’s not personal unless the game is over and I am pretty much over it. So I feel the same way during games at all times,” Collier stated. Despite wanting to win the Championship Finales during the deciding Game 5, she had a tough time when the Lynx had 17 free throws lesser than their opponents.

They also reviewed a controversial foul on Alanna Smith but in vain and that got their opponent and now founding partner Breanna Stewart to tie the game from the free throw line. But even that did not make Collier show any emotions as her critics called out the lack of it.

“And I think the only thing with that one whose like I don’t have any personality, like I was taking that personally. But of course, I try not to show my emotions on purpose like the point you trying to make is to get people riled up, so I don’t want them to know when I am ever feeling that way. So, honestly, I have kind of like just embraced it like it is what it is. It is who I am. It’s by design so gotta deal with it.,” Collier concluded.

However, later on, the Missouri-born enunciated that “loss is something I’ll never get over,” and it felt “super unjust” to have it ended this way. Her exit interview thus proved to her fans that all the trolling she was facing on social media for being ice-cold shouldn’t have commenced. But unfortunately, this was not the first time that she had to go through such things.

From NCAA to the WNBA: Napheesa Collier battling criticism for her stoic personality

The UConn Huskies had a 111-0 winning streak in the NCAA when Collier & Co. were battling against Mississippi State during the 2017 Final Four. However, as Mississippi performed extremely well, their winning streak came to an end losing the semifinals by a 66-64 tally. Popular reporter Mirin Fader writes that even during that time Collier didn’t show any emotions. ” Why are you so quiet? Why are you so calm?” people questioned her. But the then-UConn star didn’t budge.

It was from that moment onwards that her haters “said she didn’t have emotions, didn’t have personality.” Even at that time, the Missouri-born had stated, “that makes me so mad.” And her personality can be traced back to the humble lessons of her father. “You don’t run around and boast when you pay a bill or make a deadline… That’s just what you’re supposed to do.,” her father Gamal would tell her as a girl.

From that moment onwards, Collier knew she needed to show no emotions to her bullies and also keep a stoic attitude even during wins. While many will not be able to decipher the reason behind it, it has certainly propelled a little girl from Jefferson City to win the Commissioner’s Cup this year and also make it to the Championship Finales.