Napheesa Collier cemented her dominance in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league by clinching the 1-on-1 tournament title with a slick turnaround jumper over Aaliyah Edwards. As the shot dropped, the Minnesota Lynx forward let out a victorious roar — a fitting end to an offseason focused on growth, both on and off the court.
After falling short in the WNBA Finals last season against Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty, Collier wasted no time refining her skills and building her brand. As one of the featured players and co-founders of Unrivaled, she showcased her talents in an eight-week competition in Miami that highlighted her development.
“You always want to keep building,” Collier said during Lynx training camp. “Even though I had a good year last year, there’s always things to improve. I worked really hard at Unrivaled and during the offseason. Now I’m looking to apply that heading into this year.”
On the court, Collier impressed with chase-down blocks, deep jumpers, and tough finishes — all hallmarks of the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Her all-around play during the league showed that she’s ready to elevate her game again in the 2025 season.
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve drew comparisons between Collier’s commitment and that of A’ja Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces forward and three-time league MVP. “They both add something every year,” Reeve said. “When A’ja comes back, she’ll be better — and so will Phee.”
Collier’s 2024 campaign was among her best, ranking fifth in league scoring and third in rebounds. She was runner-up to Wilson in MVP voting, averaging 20.4 points per game and leading the Lynx to their deepest playoff run since winning the title in 2017.
Now, she’s eyeing a similar championship push. “No one’s going to feel sorry for us,” she said. “We use that as fuel. You don’t want to feel that heartbreak again. So we’re coming in every day with energy and focus.”
She referenced how the Lynx rebounded from a crushing 2016 Finals loss to capture the title in 2017 — a narrative she hopes to replicate. That mindset started with her efforts in Unrivaled, a league she launched with Stewart to give WNBA players a domestic offseason alternative and supplement their earnings.
Collier was a force in the 36-player league, topping the charts in scoring (25.7 points per game), field goals made (10.4), and steals (2), while shooting an efficient 61.3%. She also averaged 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the Lunar Owls, who finished the season with a league-best 13–1 record.
Her performance earned her Unrivaled MVP honors, a $200,000 prize, and a growing reputation. She recorded the second-highest scoring performance in the league’s short history with 38 points on 16-of-27 shooting against Stewart’s Mist BC.
“Phee shows why she’s one of the league’s best,” said Allisha Gray, Collier’s teammate on the Lunar Owls and a member of the Atlanta Dream. “She brings it every day — elite conditioning, top work ethic. If you want to improve, you want to train with her.”
This offseason, Collier zeroed in on ball-handling — an area she’s steadily improved since entering the league out of UConn in 2019. Her improved dribbling and a 32.7% three-point shooting rate at Unrivaled (her best since her second WNBA season) have made her even more dangerous offensively.
But above all, it’s the sting of last year’s finals loss that’s driving her. “I’ve talked a lot about last year,” she said, “but I’m using it to my advantage. I want to push a little more. Win a little more. That’s how I felt at Unrivaled, and that’s the mindset I’m carrying into the W season.”
