American basketball player Napheesa Collier joined the Minnesota Lynx in 2019 and has been a forward for them. In the 2019 WNBA draft, the franchise selected her as the sixth overall pick, in the first round.
Napheesa Collier | Early Life and Family
The WNBA Rookie Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier, was born in O’Fallon, Missouri, in the United States. The well-known player is the daughter of Gamal Collier, her father, and Sarah Collier, her mother.
Unfortunately, her career has attracted far more attention than her family and personal life. As a result, Napheesa has kept her parents’ names and whereabouts a secret.
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The status of Napheesa’s siblings is also unknown to us. Collier is an American woman who is of African origin, among other things.
For her high school education, Collier went to Jefferson City High School in Jefferson City, Missouri. At the University of Connecticut, she then started her college career.
Napheesa Collier | High School, Early Career, and College Career
As of right now, we are aware that Napheesa is a talented athlete who has frequently shown her skills on the court. Collier started as a player while still a student at Jefferson High School, where she was a part of the team.
She transferred to Incarnate Word Academy during her second year, where she went on to average 17.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. She was a standout performer even there, averaging 24.6 points and 12 rebounds.
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Collier had success and was named the Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year in 2013 and 2015.
As the best player in the country and a High School All-American for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, she also advanced to the final five for the 2015 Naismith Award.
Once she graduated from high school, a lot of organizations were interested in hiring her. The women’s basketball team from the University of Connecticut eventually selected her.
She ended up playing her entire college career for UConn as a result. Napheesa placed third in scoring, fourth in rebounds, and seventh in blocks at the end of her college career.
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Collier became the sixth member of the exclusive 2000/1000 club, joining Uconn’s Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart, and Rebecca Lobo.
Napheesa also participated for the Connecticut Huskies team that won the national championship in 2016. During her senior year, she received the Katrina McClain Award for Power Forward of the Year from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Collier finished second on the AP First Team All-American in her senior, sophomore, and junior seasons.
Unexpectedly, she finished second in terms of points scored in a season (792), but she also led UConn in rebounds.
Napheesa Collier | Professional Career, WNBA and Minnesota Lynx
Collier had a successful high school and college career, thus she was bound to play in the WNBA. In the first round of the 2019 WNBA draft, she was chosen by the Minnesota Lynx as the sixth overall pick.
Like this, Napheesa was requested to play small forward, power forward, and then small forward again after being chosen.
In her WNBA debut, she scored 27 points against the Chicago Sky, which is second-most among all rookie debuts, just behind Candice Parker.
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Napheesa also holds the record for becoming the second rookie in WNBA history to accumulate 400 points, 200 rebounds, and 60 steals.
She is also only the fourth NBA player to ever finish a season with 400 points, 200 rebounds, 75 assists, 50 steals, 25 blocks, and 25 made three-pointers.
Collier’s selection to the 2019 WNBA All-Rookie Team and subsequent inclusion as an All-Star after A’ja Wilson’s injury-related withdrawal were not a surprise given all of her accomplishments.
Napheesa averaged 13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game that season. Additionally, Collier made 79.2% of his free throw attempts, 36.1% of his three-point tries, and 49.9% of his field goal attempts.
She subsequently received accolades for being the best rookie in the WNBA, ESPNW, and Associated Press.
International Career
During the off-season, Napheesa played for the Lattes Montpellier in France.
Her squad defeated Charleville-Mezières at the Coupe De France Finale in Paris. The player played 36 minutes on the court and finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds.
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She returned to the Lynx for the 2021 season following her time abroad, but to comply with Covid-19 rules, she had to miss three games. Her absence had a noticeable impact on the Minnesota team’s performance.
It was extremely difficult for the player to stand by and watch as her squad suffered while being powerless to help them. She stated,
“Especially because I feel like I’ve been tested so much, being overseas, and I feel like I wish I could’ve been out there.”
Napheesa Collier |Husband and Wedding
Collier, who is only 20 years old and still in her youth, still has a long way to go in her career. She has a successful love life in addition to a good career.
Yes, the gorgeous Minnesota Lynx player who wears number 24 is in love with her partner. Collier has at last found the affection for her that others have been seeking for a long time.
In reality, she is engaged to Alex Bazzel, an NBA/WNBA/COLLEGE Skills Trainer.
Napheesa wrote alongside a photo of the two of them saying “Happy National Boyfriend Day” on Instagram on October 4, 2018.
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Despite their most recent public excursion, the two have been dating since their undergraduate years. But after dating for a while, Napheesa and Alex decided to take their relationship further and were engaged on October 24, 2019.
Similar to this, a picture of Alex knelt and proposing to Collier in beautiful Central Park, New York, was made public.
Naturally, Napheesa sent a photo to Instagram of this special event along with the endearing caption, “Forever with my best friend @alexbazzell24”
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We can see how much they value one another, and it is clear that their friendship and affection are contagious.
Besides that, she is the mother of her newly born baby named Mila Sarah Bazzell.
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Napheesa Collier |Body Measurements
Napheesa is known for having great athleticism and for being a force on the court. Collier, who turned 23 years old on September 23, 1996, is still rather young.
Collier is incredibly attractive, driven, and articulate, as her solar sign of Libra would suggest.
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Napheesa, who was born in Missouri, is also higher than the average lady at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm). She is really tall, but only weighs about 83 kg (182 lbs).
Napheesa Collier | Net Worth, Salary, and Income
The Minnesota Lynx’s star forward Napheesa Collier has recently enjoyed success in the WNBA. She has, however, also discovered fame and wealth.
Despite this, it is still unknown what Collier will be valued in 2022. Her team does, however, pay her a $55,059 yearly compensation. Not to mention, Napheesa earns the seventh-highest salary in the club.
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The 23-year-old also consented to a four-year, $220,235 contract with the Lynx. Her team’s highest-paid players include Sheinse Johnson, Sylvia Fowles, and Odyssey Sims.
Numerous critics and analyses predict that Collier’s remuneration will increase in the following years. Additionally, other sources claim that at the end of the season, her pay will have significantly increased to $64,583.
Napheesa Collier | Social Media Presence
FAQs
How do you pronounce Napheesa Collier?
Nuh-FEE-suh is how the WNBA player’s name is pronounced. At Name Engine, you can hear how the whole name is pronounced.
What is the zip code for Napheesa Collier?
The basketball player’s zip code ranges from 63101 to 63199.
Who is Napheesa Collier’s fiancé?
Alex Bazzel, Collier’s long-term partner, proposed to her recently.
What is Napheesa Collier’s number?
The athlete represents the Minnesota Lynx by donning jersey number 24.
Is there a sister for Napheesa Collier?
Yes, Napheesa has a younger brother named Kai and a sister named Wanza.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Napheesa Collier |
Birth Date | September 23, 1996 |
Birth Place | O’Fallon, Missouri, US |
Alias | Napheesa |
Religion | Unknown |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Education | University of Connecticut |
Horoscope | Libra |
Father’s Name | Gamal Collier |
Mother’s Name | Sarah Collier |
Siblings | Two; Kai and Wanza |
Age | 26 Years Old |
Height | 6 feet 2 inches(188cm) |
Weight | 83 kgs(182 lbs) |
Build | Athletic |
Eye color | Dark Brown |
Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Profession | WNBA Professional Player |
Active years | 2019-present |
Team | Minnesota Lynx |
Position | Forward |
Marital Status | Engaged |
Fiance | Alex Bazzel |
Salary | $55,059 |
Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
Merch | Trading Cards, T-Shirt |
Last Update | November 2022 |