Napheesa Collier was the sixth overall pick for the Minnesota Lynx in the 2019 WNBA Draft but she she has proved herself with more than that. Also, she has emerged to be one of the toughest women in the WNBA league. Pro basketball is a demanding game, whether it be men’s basketball or women’s basketball. But Collier is a separate breed when it comes to off-court toughness, as she chose to return to the WNBA league just 74 days after her daughter Mila was born. But Napheesa had a purpose behind it.
She wanted to join the hardcourt once again alongside Sylvia Fowles and she achieved it but it was not easy. In an interview with ESPN, she confessed, “It’s definitely been harder than I thought it was going to be.”
It is not just the off-court devotion of Napheesa Collier that has set high parameters for the women’s basketball players across the league. Her debut was as memorable as her off-court life as she held the Rookie of the Year and WNBA All-Rookie team selection. And it is natural for someone to be curious about the story of such a hustling player in the hooping community. So, let’s delve into the personal and professional life of Napheesa Collier and its nuances.
Napheesa Collier Biography:
| Date of Birth | May 23, 1996 |
| Age | 28 (as of 2024) |
| Birth Place | Jefferson City, Missouri, USA |
| Position | Forward |
| Spouse | Alex Bazzell(married in 2022) |
| Father | Gamal Collier |
| Mother | Sarah Collier |
| College/County | University of Connecticut |
| Height | 6 feet 1 Inch(1.85 m) |
| Weight | 178.5 lbs (81 Kgs) |
| Team | Minnesota Lynx |
| Draft Info | 6th Overall Pick, First Round |
| Experience | 6 Years |
Napheesa Collier’s Early Life
Hailing from the Missouri, Napheesa Collier had a knack for basketball from the start. However, the only AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team in Jefferson City did not try her out, reasoning it with the lack of spots on the team. Eventually, Napheesa Collier’s parents, Gamal and Sarah Collier started a brand new team and accumulated new players from the local area. It went by the name of The Lady Warriors and ultimately reached the nationals on the AAU level.
The tides of time overturned suddenly, and the same team that rejected Napheesa Collier a spot on the team, then offered her a spot. However, younger Collier decided to stay with the Lady Warriors and follow their lead in her amateur world of basketball. She grew up watching Maya Moore and later went on to spend time with her at the University of Connecticut and the Minnesota Lynx.
Her high school freshman year was spent at the Jefferson City High School, where she averaged 17.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. However, she shifted to Incarnate Word Academy during her sophomore year. She experienced a level-up in her game in the new institution, as Collier averaged 24.6 points and 12 rebounds there.
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Napheesa Collier College Career
As expected, before entering into the freshman year at the University of Connecticut, she had earned the title of being part of the McDonald All-American team. During her first year, playing basketball for the UConn Huskies, Napheesa Collier appeared in all of their 38 games. However, it was not as impactful to create a lasting memory. She was fourth on her team in terms of rebounds, with 5.2 boards per game average and 53.3% shooting from the floor. She could only tally double digits in terms of scoring in 12 of her games.
The Sophomore year at the Huskies was a pioneering year for Napheesa Collier as a basketball athlete. She averaged 20.4 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting 67.8% from the floor. As per the UConn Huskies’ official site, Napheesa was a leader in terms of scoring, and her field goal percentage was in fourth place on the national level. Overall, she had 16 double-doubles throughout her Sophomore season.
As a junior, Collier’s scoring graph went south as she only averaged 16.1 points per game, holding second place on the team when it comes to point average. However, she got consistent and scored double-digit points in 33 games of the season. That’s why Napheesa was leading the Huskies in terms of the total points scored through the basket.
The senior year was the prime of Napheesa Collier, where she averaged 20.8 points and 10.8 boards per game. She led the UConn Huskies in all aspects, like scoring, rebounds, and blocks. She even got more consistent with the time and scored double-digit points in all 38 of the games that she played. The double-double count increased to 25 in the last season.
Napheesa Collier’s Net Worth and Salary Breakdown
There is no particular estimation of the net worth of Napheesa Collier. However, as per the report of Her College Net Worth, Collier’s net worth is expected to be $1.5 million. The net worth of Napheesa Collier is a joint venture between off-court ventures and the official salary that she receives from the league franchise for her on-court excellence. Before moving deep into her ventures, let’s take a look at the salary breakdown (according to Sportrac) of Napheesa after her debut through the following table:
| Year | Team | Salary |
| 2019 | Minnesota Lynx | $49,539 |
| 2020 | Minnesota Lynx | $57,000 |
| 2021 | Minnesota Lynx | $58,710 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Lynx | $72,141 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Lynx | $202,154 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Lynx | $208,219 |
| 2025 | Minnesota Lynx | $214,284 (As per contract) |
Coming to the off-court ventures of Napheesa Collier, she has founded the Unrivalled, a 3×3 Women’s basketball league with her WNBA rival Breanna Stewart as a business partner. It is a league that provides WNBA players a chance to play basketball at a professional level, even during the offseason. Talking about her business profile, she confessed in a 2023 interview, as per ES, “Being part of the WNBPA negotiations taught me so much about the business side of basketball. We’re not just athletes—we’re advocates for the future of the sport.”
Endorsement Deals
Did you know Napheesa Collier has a tie-up with Nike? The fresh partnership brewed when Napheesa participated in the Champs Sports Nike Holiday Campaign. Though Nike has not revealed the information about the deal, the shoes are still out there. The Minnesota Lynx forward launched Nike KD 15 Napheesa Collier Community Shoes. However, these shoe models have only player-exclusives.
Along with the Nike collaboration, Napheesa Collier bears the responsibility of spreading awareness regarding finances through the U.S. Bank. This tie-up between U.S. Bank and Napheesa Collier, along with Jess Sims, started in 2023. It is a special deal for the Lynx forward, as she stated in the announcement: “Their support for the WNBA is not just financial, but truly practical. They really listened to us as players and created tools to help us with some of the unique financial challenges we face as female athletes.”
Napheesa Collier’s WNBA Contracts and Career Highlights
As per official contract information regarding Napheesa Collier on Sportrac, she is earning about $184,172 on average with the Minnesota Lynx currently. However, her contract’s duration is three years, and it was initiated in 2023. Coming to the projected salary of the Minnesota Lynx forward in 2025, she is set to earn about $214,284 next season. The cap hit on her current contract will be the same as her salary next season, which is $214,284.
Career Highlights
When it comes to Napheesa Collier’s career highlights in the world of basketball, the first thing that pops up is her international experience. Apart from the WNBA, she has also played in the European Basketball Leagues, playing for elite teams like Fenerbahçe. Other career highlights of the Minnesota Lynx forward can be mentioned as follows:
- Commissioner’s Cup 2024– She clinched the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup while representing her team, the Minnesota Lynx.
- All-Star Selections– Along with her on-court versatility and ball-handling skills, she is also a fan favorite, which resulted in her being a 4x WNBA All-Star. She made it to the All-Star team in the years 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024.
- FIBA Europe Supercup Women’s Champion– She not only earned the Supercup title in 2023 but also managed to earn the MVP title in that tournament.
- Turkish Super League Champion– The Turkish Super League title ultimately led Napheesa Collier to the honor of being the Triple Crown honors holder. Such a title is given to the individual who has won the national domestic cup, the nation’s top-notch tournament, and the top-tier European competition in the same season.
- NCAA Tournament– When it comes to her basketball career, Napheesa Collier has also earned the 2016 NCAA title while playing for the UConn Huskies.
- Olympic Gold Medalist– She has also won two Olympic gold medals for the United States while playing in 2020 and 2024.
Napheesa Collier’s Stats: Performance Overview
Napheesa Collier is a Lynx for life at the core. She has been part of the Minnesota Lynx team since she was drafted. Over the six years that she spent in the WNBA league alongside her fellow Lynx teammates, she has averaged 17.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in her career. Let’s take a look at her stats breakdown over the years.
| Year | PPG | RPG | APG |
| 2019 | 13.1 | 6.6 | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 16.1 | 9.0 | 3.3 |
| 2021 | 16.2 | 6.6 | 3.2 |
| 2022 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| 2023 | 21.5 | 8.5 | 2.5 |
| 2024 | 20.4 | 9.7 | 3.4 |
As we go through Napheesa Collier’s stats over the years, we see that she has been consistent in terms of scoring and rebounds. The Minnesota Lynx forward has continued to dominate the basket, scoring through her efficient three-point shooting and protecting the rim through her blocks. Although the playmaking skills of the Collier have not developed yet, she has improved in that department over the years, and the 2024 season was her best season regarding her playmaking abilities.
Injuries and Comebacks in Napheesa Collier’s Career
Athletes have an uphill task when it comes to injuries, and for Napheesa Collier, this is no exception. In the year 2022, she underwent a huge setback after injuring her ankle, and she was not able to perform in several matches. This injury was a huge problem because it broke her rhythm, and this also affected the display by the Lynx. Still, there was a clear indication of Collier’s willingness and ability to cut corners in the recovery process and do everything to get back her old self.
Collier, after her rehabilitation, worked really hard to improve her fitness levels and tried hard to get back to her previous performance. By the year 2023, she made a return with improved statistics, performing an average of 21.5 points per game, which was her highest ever. These issues have conquered many individuals, but not her, Simply because of her mentality, attitude discipline towards the area of sport and preparedness to work hard, she has been able to make a comeback.
She sustained another left foot injury on July 4, 2024, against the Connecticut Sun. She was facing issues in the plantar fasciitis of her left foot for a long time. However, she recovered from it during the WNBA Olympic break and did not let it become a big issue for her season play.
Family Background and Personal Life of Napheesa Collier
Napheesa Collier is the daughter of Gamal Collier and Sarah Collier. Collier’s father comes from Sierra Leone, where his father served as an ambassador of Sierra Leone to the United States. Collier’s mother is of European descent. Collier also has a younger brother, Kaidane, who is fifteen months younger than her and played football for Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Both of them were quite competitive during childhood and often played football in their father’s presence.
As of July 2024, Napheesa Collier was married to Alex Bazzell, and it happened in 2022. Bazzell is a seasoned NBA/WNBA trainer and skills coach. He has trained many stars, including Carmelo Anthony, Trae Young, and Kyrie Irving. According to Bazzell, he was inspired by the great Kobe “Bean” Bryant – a man whose work ethic was very self-motivating and one that lives in him to this very day.
Napheesa Collier and her husband, Alex Bazzell, during their marriage, gave birth to Mila Sarah Bazzell in May 2022.
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Conclusion
Napheesa Collier’s transformation from an excellent player at UConn to a renowned player in the WNBA is very commendable. Her love for the sport can be measured not only in terms of her excellent statistics and monetary contracts but also in her capacity to recover from injuries, making her one of the best players in the league. With her sense of achievement increasing, her aspirations go higher, influencing not only the WNBA but also the entire women’s sports sector. With the backing of her family, good financial status, and a rapidly growing number of fans, Collier’s prospects in basketball have never come so clearly, thereby making it clear that her narrative has only just begun.
What is Napheesa Collier’s net worth?
As per Her College Net Worth, the net worth of Napheesa Collier is about $1.5 million.
Does Napheesa Collier have a child?
Yes, Napheesa Collier and her husband Alex have a daughter named Mila Sarah Bazzell.
Is Napheesa Collier a rookie?
No, Napheesa Collier has spent six years in the WNBA league and is not a rookie.
Does Napheesa Collier have siblings?
Yes, Napheesa Collier has a younger brother whose name is Kaidane.
How many points does Napheesa Collier average?
Napheesa Collier’s career average till now in terms of points is 17.4 points per game.
What is Napheesa Collier famous for?
Napheesa Collier is a WNBA player who plays for the Minnesota Lynx and has earned various national and international accolades in the world of basketball.
How much does Napheesa Collier weigh?
Napheesa Collier weighs 81 Kg, which equals 178.5 pounds.
What is Napheesa Collier’s height?
Napheesa Collier’s height is 1.85 m or 6 feet 1 inch on the vertical scale.
What is Napheesa Collier’s ethnicity?
Napheesa Collier is an American. Her grandfather was Sierra Leone’s first permanent representative to the United Nations and helped negotiate the country’s independence from Britain in 1961.