Napheesa Collier's strong defense and all-around game boost Lynx's playoff hopes

It's hard not to make comparisons between Maya Moore and Napheesa Collier.

Both WNBA superstars hail from Jefferson City, Missouri, played basketball at the University of Connecticut and won WNBA Rookie of the Year honors in their debut season.

Moore led the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA championships in the 2010s and was inducted into the Women's National Basketball Hall of Fame. The Lynx haven't won a title since 2017, but Collier gives the team and fans hope.

Collier, affectionately known as Phee, was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year that season, finished second in MVP voting and fell to Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.

Maya Moore has been with the Minnesota Lynx for her entire WNBA career

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“Phee is phenomenal. I mean, she takes it to another level,” said Jen Rivera, a season ticket holder since 2014. “Their game reminds me a lot of Maya, but there are differences, both are very humble.” It's never about them and that's one of the points that all the players talk about. It’s just great.”

The 28-year-old Collier took another step this year. During the regular season, she averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds.

When the playoffs started, things really started to look up for them. In the Lynx's first game against the Phoenix Mercury, Collier scored 38 points. She wasn't finished yet. She dropped 42 points in Game 2, tying the single-game points record for the playoffs and keeping the announcers on ESPN on their toes.

Colin Titcomb is a long-time Lynx fan. He has been a season ticket holder since the team's second season. At Tuesday's game, he wore Collier's No. 24 jersey and a cap signed by Collier and other Lynx greats.

“I’ve never seen a performance of this caliber,” he said. “I mean, Maya Moore, she's had some good games, but that two-game stretch was the best I've ever seen. I mean, especially in Game 2, Phee couldn’t miss.”

Collier is, in a word, humble. When asked about her performance after scoring 80 points in two games, she was respectful.

“It's not like I sit back and think, 'Okay, I have to score this many points to break a record.' I only play for my team. I’m trying to win a game,” Collier said. “If you don’t win, it doesn’t matter.”

During her 42-point game, Collier scored and immediately turned to run back on defense. There was little cheering other than pointing to her teammates to thank them for their assists.

While Collier may not be vocal about her game, Lynx fans certainly are. Robynne Curlee and her father, John Curlee, have been coming to Lynx games together for years. They both love what Collier has brought to the team.

“Phee, what did you say the other day, Dad? “She loses 38 points, and that's the most unremarkable 38 points you'll ever see?” Robynne Curlee said. “She’s just a beautiful player to watch.”

“I would just do that again,” John Curlee added. “She’s so solid and rebounding, shooting, team player, defensive player of the year. My goodness, what more could you want?”

Napheesa Collier was drafted in 2019

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Collier is the engine on which the team is built. But when she's on offense, her teammates can look up.

In the semifinal series against Connecticut, the Sun swarmed Collier whenever she had the ball. Connecticut held Collier to just 9 points in Game 2, a game in which she struggled shooting. Still, she had 12 rebounds, 5 assists and blocked 4 shots.

Connecticut coach Stephanie White says focusing on containing Collier opens up opportunities for other Lynx players to score.

“As a team, they showed why they were successful. They’re so balanced,” she said. “And yes, we were able to limit Phee, but they got off the 3-point line and that's something we need to fix.

The best-of-five series is tied 1-1. The Lynx and Sun play again in Connecticut on Friday at 6:30 p.m.