Napheesa Collier's comeback season continues with 20-point performance in WNBA All-Star Game
After missing last season due to the birth of her first child, Napheesa Collier's comeback season continued on Saturday night as she scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds to help lead Team Stewart defeat Team Wilson 143-127 in the WNBA All-Star Game.
Collier was Minnesota's lone representative at this year's All-Star game, but she definitely wasn't alone. With Lynx legends Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustus sitting courtside, Collier put on a show, connecting twice from a special four-point shot that was 28 feet from the basket – eight feet beyond the WNBA's standard three-point line.
PHEE FOR THR- FOUR 🤩 pic.twitter.com/XNjxlRIZIY
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 16, 2023
Collier's long-range jumper has been one of the keys to this season as her 32.9 percent 3-point percentage is up from 25 percent in her last full season in 2021 and is her highest mark since shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in 2020.
Collier was one of four players who scored 20 or more points on Saturday night helping set the tone for Team Stewart, which was captained by New York Liberty center Breanna Stewart.
Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd scored a record 31 points on her way to MVP honors for Team Stewart while Las Vegas Aces teammates Aja Wilson (20 points), who served as the captain of Team Wilson, and Kelsey Plum (30 points) also hit the 20-point barrier.
The other highlight of the game was Brittney Griner, who was making her eighth All-Star appearance after missing the 2022 season after being detained in Russia. The Phoenix Mercury center finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds for Team Stewart including a dunk in the first quarter.
One thing about BG, BG's gonna dunk. 🏀 #WNBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/luVZlPrJq6
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 16, 2023
A three-time All-Star, Collier is averaging a career-high 21.3 points and added 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game to help the Lynx recover from a 1-7 start and head into the All-Star break to win eight of their past 12 games.
Currently sitting in a playoff spot with a record of 9-11, the Lynx will open the second half of the season when they face the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night.
