Leading in multiple categories this season, Napheesa Collier is having quite a season in the WNBA. But now that the Olympic break is on, Collier is off to her second campaign for gold in Paris. While she is averaging 20 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, Collier averaged a team-high 19 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3.7 steals within 23.5 minutes per game at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Recently, she started 1st group phase game against Japan and contributed 2-of-6 field goals in the 102-76 win.

Last month only, she scored 21 points and 6 rebounds against the New York Liberty only to pick up the Commissioner’s Cup trophy and also bag the Tournament’s MVP title. So, let’s step into the athletic world of Napheesa Collier and explore some more.

Napheesa Collier’s player profile

Drafted in 2019 as the 6th overall pick, Napheesa Collier dons a towering height of 6-foot-1 with an impressive wingspan that expands her reach making her a good screen. With a body weight of 185.2 lb, Collier carries with herself a wingspan of 6-foot-6, which enables her to pose a strong defense, one of the best in the league.

Upon getting drafted, Collier was asked to play the role of a small forward, then power forward, and then later on switch back to being a small forward. If not much, Collier polished her ability to be versatile when needed on the court.

In her first game, she scored 27 points against Chicago Sky which still holds the record of being the second-highest debut ever for a rookie after Candace Parker. Moreover, she became the second rookie after Tamika Catchings to record 400 points, 200 rebounds, and 60 steals. But, this didn’t stop there. She went ahead and became the fourth player to tally 400 points, 200 rebounds, 75 assists, 50 steals, 25 blocks, and 25 made 3-pointers.

Collier had officially raised the bar! She was named to the 2019 WNBA All-Rookie Team. But her luck as a rookie kept advancing as she also joined the All-Stars as an injury replacement for A’ja Wilson. She was then chosen as the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Then came a time that made the world standstill with coronavirus, Collier still managed to excel in the bubble as she started a Tea with A & Phee podcast with A’ja Wilson, which was later picked on by Just Women’s Sports. On the court, she was named to the All-WNBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team.

Most of her 2022 season was occupied mostly with her pregnancy, however, she did play 4 games and reasoned that she wanted to play one more game with Sylvia Fowles, who was retiring after the 2022 season.

Coming back from maternity leave,  in the early days of the 2023 season, she became the second player to put out a stat line of 30+ points (31), 5+ rebounds(8), 5+ assists (5), and 5+ blocks (6). She again made her presence felt as her performance led to honors including All-Star, All-WNBA First Team, WNBA All-Defensive Team, and Minnesota Lynx All-25 Team to celebrate the team’s 25th anniversary.

This season too, Collier made a bang with 115 points, 50 rebounds, 25+ steals and blocks, and 20 assists within only 5 games. In May, she was named the Western Conference Player of the Week award for the 5th time for putting out an outstanding display of skills on the court. But the WNBA isn’t the only place where Napheesa Collier has made her mark.

Collier’s overseas excellence

In 2021, Collier went to play for the French league, Lattes-Montpellier. At the time, she won the Coupe De France Finale in Paris. Two years later, she joined the Turkish Super League on a brief contract alongside her Lynx teammate Kayle McBride. Although it was short, she made it count by winning the MVP honor in the SuperCup Women’s Championship.

Earlier this year, she returned to the team and won the club’s second EuroLeague Women’s Championship, putting out the second-highest score ever with 33 points.

Earlier this month, she announced the formation of a new professional women’s league called Unrivaled, in collaboration with Breanna Stewart. The effort is to give the WNBA players an alternative to fly overseas in the off-season. The league is set to kick off next year and will feature 30 players in a 3-on-3 and 1-on-1 team format. So, let’s wait for the Marvel to arrive next year.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr