Napheesa Collier: MVP Candidate with Historic Statistics
Napheesa Collier proved her worth for the MVP award on Thursday night, becoming the second player in WNBA history to finish a regular season with a 50-40-90 shooting percentage. This achievement came after the Minnesota Lynx’s victory over the Golden State Valkyries with a score of 72-53 in Minneapolis. Collier, who finished the regular season with 53.1% in field goals, 40.3% in three-pointers, and 90.6% in free throws, joins Elena Delle Donne (2019) as the only WNBA players to achieve this feat. In addition, Collier is the first to achieve it while averaging more than 20 points per game (22.9 points).Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve set this goal for Collier at the start of the season. Collier, a goal-oriented person, was looking for something to fight for after finishing second in the MVP voting last season. Collier came to Thursday’s game knowing how many three-pointers he needed and the minimum percentage to reach the milestone. He made 3 of 4 three-pointers against the Valkyries.It’s only been done once before, and that player was the MVP. Phee deserves that recognition. The numbers don’t lie. … It’s something that’s been done from start to finish. 50/40/90 is historic. I don’t know how long it will be before it happens again. Napheesa Collier has been the best player in the WNBA. She deserves the MVP.
Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota coach
To achieve this goal, Collier, who is efficient at the free throw line and inside the arc, focused on her 3-point shot. Reeve urged Collier to attempt more 3-pointers per game, setting a minimum requirement for the five-time All-Star. Reeve said that change helped Collier reach a new level.When I achieve those things, I feel good. I left it a little tight for the last game of the season.
Napheesa Collier
She’s already great. Two years in a row, she’s one of the best players in the league. I think the 3-point shot was a special key to being truly unstoppable. … Napheesa Collier is the most unstoppable player in the league.
Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota coach
Collier now leads the Lynx into the postseason, where they seek to reach the WNBA Finals for the second consecutive year and, this time, hope to win their fifth title in franchise history. The Lynx’s Thursday victory means the Valkyries are the eighth seed and Minnesota’s opponent in the first round. Minnesota had a 4-0 record against Golden State during the regular season.She is the GOAT. Without her, we are not the Minnesota Lynx.
Natisha Hiedeman
We are a better team than last year. We have that year of experience, and experience always makes better teams. We know what it takes to get there. We made it to the last possible game of the season last year. … It made us better, it made us hungrier, and it’s something we’re thinking about as we enter the playoffs this year.
Napheesa Collier
