Since being drafted sixth overall in 2019, Napheesa Collier has put together a successful WNBA career. She won the Rookie of the Year award, has been on four All-Star teams, was named to two All-WNBA First Teams, and took home the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award. She also led her team to the WNBA Finals last season.
This season, she is the favorite to win the WNBA MVP award, but there is another milestone she could accomplish very soon. Somewhat surprisingly, Collier has not recorded a triple-double yet.
Given how Collier has played this season, it likely won’t be much longer until that changes.
Collier came close to recording a triple-double against the Sparks
Napheesa Collier has always been a talented scorer, strong rebounder, and smart defender. Even as a rookie, she recorded six double-doubles, including a 19-points-10-rebounds performance in her first-ever postseason game. Reaching double-digits and points and rebounds per game hasn’t been much of a challenge for Collier. Dishing out ten assists in a game is something she hasn’t been able to do yet. The closest she has come was eight. Collier has been a good playmaker this season, though, recording at least four assists in seven games this season.
In her most recent game, a massive statement to solidify her standing in the MVP race, she came close to that elusive triple-double. Collier finished the game against the Sparks with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks. She impacted every aspect of the game and scored with impressive efficiency.
It was a reminder that the MVP award is hers to lose, even if other players are also putting together great cases. Caitlin Clark, for example, returned from her quad injury in thunderous fashion, and Satou Sabally has consistently put up big numbers for the Phoenix Mercury.
Collier is unquestionably one of the best players in the league right now
With 26.1 points per game, Napheesa Collier leads all players in the WNBA in scoring this season. She is also the best player on the best team in the league. That is a great recipe for success and puts the MVP award right at Collier’s fingertips.
Five constructive double-doubles early in the season left no doubt that Collier was in top shape and ready to lead her team on a much-anticipated revenge tour. Recording her first-ever triple-double in the midst of an MVP campaign would only solidify Collier’s standing as one of the best all-around players in the league.