Napheesa Collier

Napheesa Collier's Biography

Napheesa Collier, known by her fans and peers as “Phee”, was born on September 23, 1996, and took her first steps towards basketball stardom as an American professional. Her journey began in her hometown, Jefferson City, where she recalls an unfortunate encounter with an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team. Despite her eagerness to participate, the team denied her an opportunity due to lack of places. Defying adversity, her parents created a new team named the “Lady Warriors”, and recruited girls from neighboring towns. The Lady Warriors succeeded in competing in the national AAU tournament, garnering a respectable reputation and proving the initial decision to exclude Collier was misjudged.

The basketball journey of another Jefferson native, Maya Moore, inspired Collier. She admired Moore throughout her years as a University of Connecticut player and later as a part of the Minnesota Lynx team. Moore’s influence played a pivotal role in Collier’s basketball narrative, culminating in a powerful endorsement from Lynx’s head coach, Cheryl Reeve, who claimed the significance of Moore is embodied in the dreams and aspirations of Collier.

In her teenage years, Collier began playing a critical role for Jefferson City High School. Her impressive scoring average of 17.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game inevitably attracted scholarship offers from colleges across the nation. Despite initial reluctance to join the University of Connecticut Huskies, a college known for its consistent championships, she eventually chose to embrace the team upon witnessing the strong camaraderie among its members.

Collier’s prowess on the court grew significantly throughout her university years. She made a significant impact on the university’s basketball history, ranking third in scoring, fourth in rebounds, and seventh in blocks by the end of her university career. Proving her sheer dominance, she managed to average 20.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game during her senior year, joining the exclusive 2000/1000 club, an honor reserved for basketball greats like Moore, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart, and Rebecca Lobo.

Upon leaving university, Collier was chosen by the Minnesota Lynx as the 6th pick in the 2019 WNBA draft, starting her journey in the professional league. Though originally positioned as a small forward and later as a power forward, Collier demonstrated an ability to exceed expectations. She made her first mark in the league by scoring 27 points against the Chicago Sky, becoming only the second rookie in history after Candace Parker to achieve such a feat. Her impressive scoring prowess coupled with her innate ability to rebound, assist, steal, and block shots rewarded her with an All-Rookie Team and All-Star nomination, alongside the coveted Rookie of the Year title.

During the pandemic-stricken 2020 season, Collier demonstrated immense resilience under unfavorable circumstances, making headlines for her All-WNBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team selections. She also took the opportunity to start a podcast with A’ja Wilson.

In 2023, she grabbed the spotlight once again by pulling off an MVP-caliber season after returning from maternity leave. Despite personal changes affecting her playing rhythm, her return was triumphant, offering performances that were historic for the league. Her remarkable progress continued into the 2024 season, with Collier becoming a player of many firsts and achieving new heights in her career.

Besides her notable achievements in the WNBA, Collier brought glory to her country by contributing to the U.S. Women’s National Basketball Team’s victories in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic games, securing two gold medals. She also played for two European leagues, Lattes-Montpellier in France, and Fenerbahçe in Turkey, achieving remarkable success with both teams.

In addition to her flourishing career, Collier made an impactful step towards the welfare of other WNBA players by co-founding the Unrivaled professional women’s league with Breanna Stewart. The objective of the league is to provide WNBA players with a chance to play during the off-season instead of competing overseas. Together, they aim to offer players the opportunity to strengthen their skills and enjoy the game within the safety and comfort of their home country.

At five years into her professional basketball career, Napheesa Collier’s journey is filled with tremendous achievements and contributions to the world of basketball. Her legacy, highlighted by her numerous awards and accolades, has paved the way for future players and firmly established her as one of the WNBA’s most impressive athletes.