Napheesa Collier, affectionately nicknamed “Phee,” is an American professional basketball player celebrated for her versatility and leadership on the court.
She has risen to prominence as a forward for the Minnesota Lynx in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
A product of the University of Connecticut’s storied basketball program, Collier was selected sixth overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the Lynx.
Beyond her athletic prowess, she is a co-founder of the Unrivaled basketball league, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), and a vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association executive committee.
Siblings
Napheesa grew up in a tight-knit family with two siblings, an older sister, Wanza Collier, and a younger brother, Kai Collier.
Wanza, the eldest of the trio, has maintained a relatively low public profile compared to her athletic siblings.
Kai, born 15 months after Napheesa, inherited the family’s athletic gene and pursued football rather than basketball.
He played as a wide receiver at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, showcasing his own competitive spirit.
Growing up, Napheesa and Kai were fiercely competitive, often playing football together with their father, Gamal, in the backyard.
Career
Collier’s basketball journey began in Jefferson City, Missouri, where she starred at Jefferson City High School before transferring to Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis.
At Incarnate Word, she led her team to three consecutive state championships, averaging 24.6 points and 12 rebounds per game in her senior year.
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Her dominance earned her a scholarship to the University of Connecticut, where she played from 2015 to 2019 under legendary coach Geno Auriemma.
At UConn, Collier helped the Huskies reach the Final Four all four years, including a national championship in 2016.
She graduated as the program’s third all-time leading scorer with 2,401 points and fourth in rebounds with 1,219.
Drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2019, Collier made an immediate impact, earning Rookie of the Year honors with a debut performance of 27 points against the Chicago Sky.
She has since become a cornerstone of the Lynx, leading them to the playoffs multiple times and captaining the team in pursuit of a fifth franchise championship.
Off the WNBA court, Collier has played overseas for teams like Fenerbahçe in Turkey, winning the EuroLeague and Turkish Super League titles in 2024.
Her innovative spirit shines through in Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league she co-founded with Breanna Stewart in 2023, which launched in 2025 to provide WNBA players a domestic offseason alternative.
Accolades
Collier’s trophy case is a testament to her excellence at every level.
In high school, she was named the 2013 and 2015 Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American in 2015.
At UConn, she earned the Katrina McClain Award as the nation’s top power forward in 2019, was a two-time WBCA First Team All-American (2017, 2019), and set a single-season rebounding record with 411 boards.
Her senior year saw her average 20.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, cementing her legacy as one of UConn’s all-time greats.
In the WNBA, Collier’s accolades include Rookie of the Year (2019), four All-Star selections (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024), and First Team All-WNBA honors in 2023.
She was named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and led the Lynx to the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup title.
Internationally, she secured Olympic gold medals in 2020 and 2024, and in the Unrivaled league’s inaugural season, she won the 1-on-1 tournament on February 14, 2025, earning a $200,000 prize.
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