Winning the Defensive Player of the Year, finishing second in MVP voting, breaking multiple records but failing to clinch the title, this season has been bittersweet for Napheesa Collier. While the Minnesota Lynx may not have taken the trophy home, Collier’s individual performance has been unforgettable. 

After averaging 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds during the regular season, she took her gameplay to next level in the playoffs. The first and most remarkable one has to be breaking the record for the most points in a single postseason game after 15 years. Diana Taurasi previously held the record for 245 points. 

But Phee surpassed it and reached 249 points after a 22-point performance in Game 3 against the Liberty. Moreover, do you know Taurasi made history in 11 games, while the Lynx star just did it in 10?

And she didn’t stop there! The 4× WNBA All-Star also tied for the most points scored in a single playoff game with 42 against the Phoenix Mercury. Touching the mark, she matched Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry. 

On top of that, she also posted the most steals in a WNBA Finals series, racking up 17, surpassing Tamika Catchings’ 16 during the 2009 Finals. And the 2024 DPOY very well justified her title by posting the highest number of stocks (steals + blocks) in a single postseason.

As if that wasn’t just enough to stun people, the Lynx’s power forward is the only player in WNBA playoff history to average 40 points per game in any series. She also inked her name into history by being the only player to record three straight 25-point, 10-rebound performances in semis against the Connecticut Sun. 

But you know what sets her apart is her humility. Which, by the way, makes most compare her to another Lynx legend, Maya Moore. 

Napheesa Collier: Maya Moore in the making?

You can’t help but notice the similarities between the two hoopers. Surprisingly, they both come from Jefferson City, Missouri, and they even went to the same college, the University of Connecticut. Moreover, both of them were titled Rookie of the Year in their respective debut seasons. 

Let’s not forget their leadership skills. Moore led the Lynx to four championships in the 2010s. Although Lynx hasn’t won a title since 2017, Collier is determined to make that happen and her stats would speak of it.

Both players bring a game style, including scoring and defense, to the ground. “Phee is phenomenal,” said Jen Rivera, a forever Lynx fan. “Her play reminds me a lot of Maya, but both of them are very humble. It’s never about them, and that’s something all the players talk about.”

Speaking of humility, the Lynx’s power forward gave the perfect example when she credits her teammates after the game. Being a believer in teamwork, she likes the idea of the collective effort leading to success.

All in all, this season has been one of the best for the 2024 All-WNBA First Team star. With each game, she shined through. Minnesota would definitely look to come back strong next year, and with command in Phee’s hand, their future looks bright.