To finish a sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in a best-of-three opening-round playoff sequence, the Minnesota Lynx wanted a herculean effort from its lone Olympian, Napheesa Collier.
The sixth-year ahead from UConn delivered.
Collier’s career-high 38 factors in a seven-point Sport 1 victory was adopted by resetting her private finest: 42 factors in a decisive 13-point Sport 2 win. Collier is the primary participant within the historical past of the WNBA to attain at the least 35 factors or extra in two consecutive playoff video games.
Take into consideration that—the historical past of the WNBA.
Collier did one thing so spectacular that it is by no means been achieved earlier than by anybody. Not Sheryl Swoopes or Lisa Leslie. Not Diana Taurasi or Sue Chicken. Not Lauren Jackson or Cynthia Cooper.
Collier stands alone on this unique membership.
She scored 80 factors within the Lynx’s wins over the Mercury, marking the membership’s first playoff sequence win because the 2020 bubble. And he or she did it in an extremely environment friendly style, capturing 25-of-39 from the ground, a 64 p.c clip, whereas additionally making 25-of-28 free throws and 5-of-8 3-pointers. And in 77 mixed minutes of play, she had simply 4 turnovers to eight assists.
Collier is taking part in among the finest basketball of her profession.
The query is: Is that sufficient to steer the Lynx to a WNBA title?
Take into account that, if A’ja Wilson didn’t exist, Collier in all probability would’ve been the league MVP this season. Wilson received the award unanimously—and deservedly so—however Collier completed second with 467 voting factors, a large margin in entrance of Breanna Stewart’s 295 factors in third place. And along with her wild scoring totals over the Mercury, Collier is seen by many as the highest defensive participant within the WNBA, as evidenced by the AP voting her Defensive Participant of the Yr.
“I undoubtedly suppose that Phee ought to undoubtedly be getting form of extra consideration than she’s gotten,” Stewart, Collier’s teammate at UConn, instructed the Washington Put up. “Particularly this 12 months, simply the best way that she’s constantly been on the high from begin to end. Individuals want to understand her sport.”
Along with her 20.4 factors per sport, which is fifth-best within the WNBA, Collier is averaging profession highs in rebounds (9.7), assists (3.4) and blocks (1.4) per sport. There’s an argument to be made that the 6-foot-1 ahead from Missouri is seeing the sport higher than she ever has.
And again to protection for a second, Collier is second within the WNBA in defensive win shares (2.9) and defensive ranking (89.2), each of that are career-bests for her.
With Collier main the best way, Minnesota went 30-10 within the common season, posting its finest win proportion since 2017 when it went 27-7. Need to guess how that season ended for the Lynx? They received the Finals, marking their fourth championship underneath the steerage of Cheryl Reeve.
Since that period of Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson ended, the Lynx have been trying to find a brand new face-of-the-franchise. It wasn’t apparent on the time in 2019 that Collier would turn out to be that once they chosen her with the sixth general decide of the draft, but it surely’s crystal clear now that she is. Along with successful a gold medal this summer season on a Reeve-coached Group USA squad, Collier was named to her fourth all-star group and is a lock to make her second straight All-WNBA First Group.
Collier has additionally already led the Lynx to capturing some {hardware}. Earlier this season, the Lynx went 4-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play after which, behind 21 factors, six assists and 6 rebounds from Collier, beat the New York Liberty 94-89 for the trophy, whereas Collier was named the mid-season match’s MVP.
“She’s like an amoeba,” Reeve stated of Collier. “In the event that they’re going to let her be within the paint, then she’s going to search out herself within the paint. She will be able to display screen; she will roll. She understands how you can play in motion, be on the perimeter, and shoot the basketball. She’s capturing the three effectively. She simply finds alternative ways to impression the sport based mostly on what’s dictated.”
The Liberty are the No. 1 general seed in these WNBA Playoffs, however—counting the Commissioner’s Cup title sport—the Lynx went 3-1 in opposition to them within the common season. The Lynx additionally went 3-1 in opposition to the two-time reigning champs, the Las Vegas Aces.
Seemingly, the largest hurdle remaining for Collier and the Lynx is their opponent within the semifinals, the Connecticut Solar. The Lynx went 1-2 in opposition to the Solar within the common season, however these video games had been determined by a mean of two.6 factors and Collier performed simply 24 minutes in a July 4 loss to Connecticut.
With a powerful supporting solid round Collier of fellow all-star Kayla McBride, mixed with Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams and Myisha Hines-Allen, the sky appears to be the restrict for the Lynx. If they will get previous the Solar within the semifinals, including to Reeve’s assortment of championships appears more and more attainable.