UConn's Geno Auriemma frequently heaps equal parts praise and derision on his former superstar Paige Bueckers, but he also makes sure there's plenty to go around for the other powerhouse WNBA athletes his program has produced. At present, there are 14 UConn graduates in the league: Tina Charles, Bria Hartley, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Stefanie Dolson, Aaliyah Edwards, Moriah Jefferson, Kia Nurse, Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, Kiah Stokes, Azura Stevens, Katie Lou Samuelson, Gabby Williams, Tiffany Hayes, and Napheesa Collier.
While speaking to the Washington Post about Collier last week, Auriemma admitted that there is "nothing that surprises me about her."
"And there’s nothing that’s going to stop her from getting what she wants...She’s a mom. She’s really, really smart. She’s beautiful. She’s talented. She’s articulate. She’s graceful in her game. She’s passionate," he added.
Collier was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She was named Rookie of the Year that season and averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game — a statline that immediately solidified her position as a long-term game changer for the league. This season she established herself as one of the top three leaders in the WNBA, and came in second for MVP.
Since then, Collier has gone on to become a leader for her team and for women's sports as a whole. She and Breanna Stewart founded Unrivaled in July 2023 and have since grown the professional 3x3 league into a formidable installation in the world of women's basketball and a guide for how similar leagues can operate in the future.
Napheesa Collier's playoffs future is in question
Unfortunately for Collier and the Lynx, the star's playoffs status is in question after she suffered a difficult foot injury during the team's third game against the Mercury Friday night. The moment transpired at the very end of the match, when the Mercury's Alyssa Thomas pounced on Collier and stole the ball, sending the 6'1" forward spiraling to the floor after rolling her foot.
The moment sparked fury in Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who stormed the court and was eventually ejected after she yelled at referees and Mercury fans. Though it appears Thomas did not foul Collier during the play — the leg to leg contact happened after the ball was loose on the floor — that likely does little to alleviate the frustrations expressed by Reeve and Lynx fans, not to mention the injury Collier suffered.