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Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier had an incredible year in the WNBA, earning the Defensive Player of the Year award and winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA. She co-founded a new league called Unrivaled with New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart. Despite her many accomplishments, Collier still feels the pain of losing the WNBA title to the Liberty.
After being named Sportsperson of the Year by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Collier opened up about the lingering hurt from the Finals defeat. She admitted, “I don’t know if it will ever go away. Hard wins, great losses, they stick with you.”
Collier’s husband, Alex Bazzel, who serves as Unrivaled president, echoed her sentiments, saying that the loss affected her deeply and motivated her to strive for even greater success. He believes that this experience will push her to reach new heights in her career.
The 2024 WNBA Finals culminated in a heartbreaking loss for the Lynx in Game 5, marked by a controversial foul call that led to overtime. The team ultimately fell short, losing 67-62 to the New York Liberty, with Collier fouling out in overtime.
Despite the setback, Collier is more determined than ever to bounce back and vie for a championship. Bazzell emphasized her resilience, stating that she sees this as an opportunity for growth and not a defining moment in her career.
Collier impact outside of the court
In addition to her impressive on-court performance in 2024, where she excelled in scoring, efficiency, steals, rebounding, minutes, and blocks, Collier has made a significant impact off the court through the creation of Unrivaled.
Unrivaled, a league set to take place during the offseason to provide lucrative opportunities for players without the need to play overseas, has attracted top talent and is poised to elevate women’s sports.
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