Elite defensive anchor, WNBA champion and founder of her own league whose dominance has made her one of the most powerful figures in women's basketball.
Napheesa Collier was born in O'Fallon, Missouri on 23 September 1997. A 6ft 1in forward with exceptional defensive instincts, versatile scoring and elite athleticism, Collier has established herself as one of the WNBA's best two-way players. She was selected sixth overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx and won the WNBA championship with them in 2024 — the franchise's fifth title. She has been a multiple All-Star, won the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award and been an All-WNBA selection. She is also the co-founder of Unrivaled — a 3-on-3 women's basketball league launched in 2025 designed to keep WNBA players in the United States during the off-season, a significant step forward for women's basketball infrastructure. She won Olympic gold in 2024 with USA.
Versatile forward, elite defender, WNBA champion
How They Played
Versatile forward with strong defense and scoring ability
Lasting Impact
Two-way star who helped establish Minnesota Lynx dynasty
WNBA Champion 2024
She co-founded Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league launched in 2025 to give WNBA players a high-quality domestic option during the off-season — a structural innovation that has been widely praised as transformative for women's basketball.
Did You Know?Career Honours
- WNBA Champion 2024
- Olympic Gold 2024
- WNBA DPOY 2023