While Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart co-founded the newest league with a 3-on-3 format, it appears that Collier alone is owning the competition. While Stewart was eliminated in the first round, Collier has paved her way to the third round. However, moving forward wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

In the quarterfinals, the Lynx superstar went head-to-head against Courtney Williams. But before stepping onto the court, the two players had a war of words. Williams, coming off a win against Rhyne Howard with an 11-9 victory, issued a warning to Collier.

“She got to get through me,” Williams declared. And she wasn’t just talking—she meant every word. Even before her last game against Howard, she made her confidence clear.

“I don’t care who it is,” Williams told Swish Appeal. “They can be tall, they can be short, they can shoot 3s, they can shoot middies. That $200,000 has got a hold on me.”

So, did Collier feel threatened? Well, she’s no stranger to dominance herself.

In her last game at Wayfair Arena, Collier was met with plenty of cheers. Facing off against Katie Lou Samuelson, she took control from the very first possession, ultimately securing a commanding 12-6 victory in just minutes. She’d then dominate against 2024 draftee Rickea Jackson 12-5.

There’s no doubt—Collier has been one of the most dominant players this season, leading the league in scoring. “I’ve put in the work, so I feel confident every time I step onto the court,” she shared. And she proved it, stepping onto the court with enough confidence to knock Williams out of the tournament.

Every time opponents pose a challenge, Collier backs it up with one key attribute.

It’s her “confidence”.

While both Collier and Williams brought contrasting styles to their intense Unrivaled quarterfinal matchup, it was Collier who dominated with efficiency and control. Williams, known for her fearless scoring, struggled to find her rhythm, shooting just 20% from the field. She made only 2 of her 10 shots, while Collier showcased her all-around game, converting 50% of her shots.

Both players matched each other in rebounds (7 apiece), but it was Collier’s defense that stood out. Despite Williams’ aggressive approach, including drawing three fouls, Collier’s composed play and superior shot-making led to a convincing 12-4 victory—nearly triple what Williams scored. Could there be a better response to Williams’ threat?

Well, this isn’t the first time Collier has faced a challenge and conquered it.

Even in the second round against Rickea Jackson, she faced a similar challenge. Before the game, Jackson sent a clear message that she was ready to take down the league’s co-founder with her physical style of play.

“I just gotta body [Napheesa Collier] and hope that the refs don’t be on that bull crap,” Jackson said. And no doubt, she had the stats to back up her words.

Jackson, in the first round, was more efficient from the field, making nearly 62.5% of her shots compared to Collier’s 41.7%. But despite the lower shooting efficiency, Collier still managed to outplay. She secured a 12-5 victory against Jackson in their second-round game.

She’s two steps away from the $200,000 grand prize. Will the co-founder win the first tournament prize money in the league she designed?