Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier is making a powerful statement, pledging $100,000 to the staff of her Unrivaled league team, the Lunar Owls. The generous donation comes directly from her winnings after she became the champion of the new league’s inaugural one-on-one tournament. Collier’s gesture highlights her commitment to recognizing the essential, behind-the-scenes work that supports athletes.
A Champion’s Gesture of Gratitude
After a thrilling victory against Aaliyah Edwards in the Unrivaled tournament final on February 14, Collier decided to share her success. Her pledge of $100,000 represents half of her total prize money from the event.
The funds are dedicated to the training staff, performance experts, and assistant coaches who have been instrumental in the league’s first season. “I wanted to make sure I found a way to show appreciation to the staff members,” Collier explained to ESPN. She felt it was crucial to acknowledge their foundational role in building the new league and supporting the players.
Unrivaled: A New Era for Women’s Hoops
The Unrivaled league is more than just a place to play basketball during the WNBA offseason. Co-founded by Collier and fellow superstar Breanna Stewart, it aims to revolutionize the sport for female athletes. The league provides a high-level competitive environment right here in the United States, eliminating the need for players to go overseas.
Unrivaled is setting a new standard with its player-centric approach and professional environment.
- It offers WNBA players a domestic option to train and compete during their offseason.
- The league is based in Miami, featuring a state-of-the-art arena and top-tier training facilities.
- It reportedly offers the highest average salary of any women’s professional sports league in the world.
This new venture represents a major step forward in creating financial stability and career-building opportunities for women in basketball.
Collier’s Legacy On and Off the Court
At 28, Collier has already established herself as one of the WNBA’s elite players. Since being drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2019, she has consistently performed at a high level. Her impact is clear from her impressive career statistics.
| Stat Category | Career Average |
| Points Per Game | 17.4 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 7.9 |
| Assists Per Game | 2.9 |
| Steals Per Game | 1.7 |
Her trophy case is just as impressive. Collier earned the Rookie of the Year award in 2019 and is a four-time All-Star. Most recently, she was named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and led the Lynx to the WNBA Finals.
Changing the Game for Future Generations
Collier’s donation is more than a simple act of kindness; it’s a powerful statement about player empowerment and the value of a supportive team structure. By investing back into the league’s staff, she is reinforcing the idea that players are key stakeholders in the growth and success of the sport.
This move, combined with the groundbreaking mission of Unrivaled, signals a significant shift in women’s basketball. It encourages greater investment, promotes long-term stability, and inspires a new generation of athletes to see themselves not just as players, but as leaders shaping the future of their profession.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Napheesa Collier?
Napheesa Collier is a professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She is a four-time All-Star, the 2019 Rookie of the Year, and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. She is also a co-founder of the new Unrivaled basketball league.
What is the Unrivaled basketball league?
Unrivaled is a new professional women’s basketball league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. It provides a U.S.-based offseason option for WNBA players to compete and train while offering what is claimed to be the highest average salary in women’s professional sports.
How much money did Napheesa Collier donate?
Napheesa Collier pledged $100,000, which was half of the prize money she won from the Unrivaled league’s first one-on-one tournament.
Who will receive the donation?
The $100,000 donation is for the training and performance staff, as well as the assistant coaches of Collier’s Unrivaled team, the Lunar Owls, to thank them for their hard work.
