The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Collier fifth UConn Rookie of the Year
Napheesa Collier would just go.
When she was at UConn, Collier was so consistent and methodical in everything she did that Geno Auriemma called her a “machine.”
Now, Cheryl Reeve can relate.
Collier was named WNBA Rookie of the Year Monday morning, becoming the fifth former Husky to win one of the league’s top awards.
“She recorded one of the best rookie seasons ever, boasting an incredibly efficient stat line every time she played,” Reeve, the Minnesota Lynx coach and general manager, said in a team statement. “She was not only one of the most efficient scorers in the league, her defensive performance ranked near the top of the entire league and was one of the best seasons ever for a rookie. Napheesa’s rookie campaign was a model of consistent rarely demonstrated by first-year players and simply put, we were a better team with her on the court.”
Collier, the sixth overall pick in the WNBA draft, averaged 13.1 points, 6.6
rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.91 steals while starting all 34 regular season games for the Lynx. She received 29 of 43 votes from a national media panel, with Dallas Wing guard Arike Ogunbowale collecting the other 14 votes.
She is the first Minnesota player to win the award since Moore. Collier is also the fourth player in league history to record at least 400 points, 200 rebounds, 75 assists, 50 steals, 25 blocks and 25 3-pointers made in a season. The others: Moore, Tamika Catchings and Sheryl Swoopes.
Other former Huskies to win the honor include include Breanna Stewart (2016), Maya Moore (2011), Tina Charles (2010) and Diana Taurasi (2004).
“It’s such an honor to be named this year’s Rookie of the Year,” Collier said in a statement. “So many great players have won this award in the past and I’m excited to join that list. I’ve been lucky to be put in such a great situation here in Minnesota and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Moore, a six-time all-star, did not play this season, leaving Minnesota with a hole on its roster. Collier averaged a league-high 33.3 minutes per game, shooting 49 percent from the field and 36.1 percent on 3-point attempts while making the All-Star Game as an injury replacement.
Among WNBA rookies, Collier ranked second in scoring, rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage and finished third in assists and 3-point field goal percentage. She led rookies in steals and ranked fourth in that category among all WNBA players.
She also was voted the Associated Press’ Rookie of the Year last week, receiving eight votes to Ogunbowale’s six.
An All-America at UConn, Collier led the Lynx (18-16) to the seventh seed in the WNBA playoffs. Minnesota lost 85-74 to Seattle in the first round last week, although Collier had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Collier averaged 20.8 points and 10.8 rebounds as a senior at UConn. She finished her career as the school’s third-leading scorer (2,401) and fourth-leading rebounding (1,219). Three other Huskies rank in the top five in both categories: Moore, Stewart and Charles.