Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Putting Napheesa Collier's historic WNBA playoff run in context

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Oct 10, 2024 10:31 AM ET

It would not be a stretch to call Napheesa Collier the best two-way player in basketball right now, male or female. The Lynx star has dominated both ends of the floor during the ongoing WNBA playoffs, averaging 27.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals with 54/45/88 shooting splits.

Those numbers are almost unheard of. Even Nikola Jokic and LeBron James did not lead the NBA in all defensive metrics during their historic playoff runs in 2023 and 2016, respectively. But that's exactly what Collier, the best defensive player in her league, has done in Lynx's run to the WNBA Finals.

Collier's two-way brilliance means she's averaging the most points by a Defensive Player of the Year in WNBA playoff history, surpassing the previous marks set by Sheryl Swoopes (24.3 in 2002), A'ja Wilson (23.8 in 2023) and Candace Parker (22.0 in 2020).

Napheesa Collier is averaging the most PPG by a DPOY in a playoff run in WNBA history. pic.twitter.com/ldFqo9S14f
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) October 9, 2024

Furthermore, Collier's 27.1 PPG is the most by any player entering the finals since Maya Moore in 2015.

Napheesa Collier is averaging 27.1 PPG.

That’s the most PPG by a player entering the Finals since Maya Moore in 2015. pic.twitter.com/wXPAwTiUdd
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) October 9, 2024

Collier's magnificent run has helped increase her career playoff PPG to 22.1, which is third all-time (minimum 15 games), behind only Cynthia Cooper (23.3) and Breanna Stewart (22.6). If "Phee" sustains her average of 27.1 PPG in the finals, she will eclipse Cooper and Stewart on the all-time leaderboard.

Amid her history-making feats, Collier remains razor-focused on the job at hand, which is guiding the Lynx to the WNBA championship.

"It is really gratifying to be here, but we have a lot of work to do yet," Collier said on Tuesday, via ESPN. "It feels good. I think we're enjoying the ride. I mean, it'd be nice to close [the WNBA Finals] out in three [games] and not have to go to five to stay together."

While the Liberty enter the WNBA Finals as overwhelming betting favorites, the Lynx beat them three out of four times in their regular-season matchups. Game 1 is on Thursday.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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