The Minnesota Lynx are no strangers to winning championships. The franchise has already secured four titles and was just one win away from adding a fifth last season. Led by Napheesa Collier, the Lynx were one of the last two teams standing, battling the New York Liberty in the finals.
The Lynx lost, but that does not mean their pursuit of another championship is over. All of the Lynx’s top players will be back in Minnesota for the 2025 season. So, if healthy, Minnesota should once again be one of the better teams in the league.
Napheesa Collier’s offseason certainly suggests that. Collier played at an MVP level in the 2024 season. She finished second in MVP voting behind A’ja Wilson and took home the Defensive Player of the Year award. She was not only the best player on the Lynx but one of the top players on either end of the floor in the entire WNBA. Her production was a big reason for the Lynx’s success.
If her performances in Unrivaled are any indication, Collier is showing no signs of slowing down.
Napheesa Collier’s Unrivaled performances promise another MVP-level season
Collier is one of the co-founders of Unrivaled and, as it turns out, is also the perfect player for the format. Her size and versatility on both ends of the floor make her a mismatch nightmare in the 3-on-3 setting.
Collier’s numbers reflect that. She is currently averaging 29.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1 block per game, leading the league in the first two categories. Unsurprisingly, the Lunar Owls have not lost a game yet and even took care of business against the Laces with a 75-73 win to close out January.
Collier is excelling at both ends of the court, impressing with her offense and defense alike. She already put together three games in which she scored at least 30 points.
If she brings that same production to the W, the Lynx look ready for another deep playoff run. Collier’s MVP-level play carried the team last season. After playing this well in Unrivaled, she should be ready to make her case for the award again and provide the foundation for another competitive year for the Lynx.
The Lynx will go as far as Collier can take them, but her teammates need to be at their best as well. Fortunately, some of them are also showing out in Miami.
Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Natisha Hiedeman are also playing in Unrivaled. McBride has been excellent for the Laces, averaging the second-most points in the league behind only Collier. Williams has established herself as one of the best playmakers in Unrivaled, dishing out 4.7 assists per game, and looks ready to take that skill to the next level with the Lynx. Hiedeman is on a relief player contract and moving from team to team, depending on how many players are out for a game. While it is a little tricky to find a rhythm in that situation, Hiedeman will be in great shape and ready for the 2025 WNBA season.