Napheesa Collier Must Meet ‘Be More Assertive’ Demand to Save Lynx’s Season
The Minnesota Lynx started this year’s playoff run in the worst way possible. They were the only top seed to suffer an upset, falling 75-91 to the New York Liberty. If they still win the series, they will be the first No.1 seed since 2022 not to sweep their first-round series.
It was just a tough game all around. The Lynx lost the rebounding battle, conceded 24 points off turnovers, and shot 35% from deep compared to the Liberty’s 52%. Napheesa Collier, Nia Brodie, and Natasha Howard all got into foul trouble early, leaving the Lynx with no good answer to Breanna Stewart. She finished the game with 34 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
The Lynx’s stars, meanwhile, had quiet games. Brodie led the team in scoring off the bench with 16 points. Olivia Miles finished with 11 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the field, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist, and 4 turnovers. She looked every bit like a rookie in her very first playoff game against a team with a championship core. Collier also scored just 12 points on 6-for-14 shooting along with 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 assists, and 3 turnovers.
With Miles adjusting to the playoffs, the Lynx need Collier to step up and play like the MVP runner-up she was for two straight years before undergoing double ankle surgery in the offseason.
“I’d like her to be more assertive,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said about Collier in the postgame media availability, per a video on the team’s YouTube channel.
When asked what Collier could do better, Reeve added, “Move. I think she was a little more stuck. She’s great when she moves. She’s just like Stewie when she moves.”
The Lynx need more from Collier to avoid an upset
After losing Game 1 at home, the Lynx are officially in dangerous territory. The Liberty can enter Game 2 on their home floor confident that they can beat the No. 1 seed, and knowing that even if they don’t win this one, they will have another chance. The Lynx, on the other hand, will go home if they lose Game 2—and that would be quite the disaster. They’re supposed to compete for a title, not lose to the lowest playoff seed in the first round.
Miles needs to play better, although the Liberty have been a rough matchup for her all season long. So do Natasha Howard and Courtney Williams. But, in the end, Napheesa Collier is the most important player on this team. The Lynx need her to match Breanna Stewart on both ends of the floor.
Collier was named Defensive Player of the Year just two years ago, and she is Minnesota’s best shot at slowing down Stewart. She also needs to be aggressive offensively to match Stewart’s output and make her work defensively or maybe even get her in foul trouble. Beating the Liberty at home will be a tall task if Collier isn’t playing like an MVP candidate—even if Miles finds her rhythm and the other starters play better.
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Elaine Blum covers women’s basketball for On SI from Europe. She has been writing about women's hoops since 2023 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism and a master’s degree in American Studies with a focus on women’s and gender studies. She started playing basketball when she was 10 years old and won several league and state championships at the youth and senior level.