Minnesota Lynx Forward Makes Big Statement In Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joe Rutland | Last updated May 17, 2025 2:12 PM ET

Anyone who follows the WNBA closely knows that Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is a star. Collier plays hard when she's on the court, averaging 20.4 points per game last season. What could she do for an encore? Well, Friday night was a great start.

Collier scored 34 points as Minnesota defeated the Dallas Wings 99-84 on the University of Texas-Arlington campus in Arlington, Texas. It was a highly-touted opener with 2025 WNBA Draft No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers taking the court as a pro for the first time.

NAPHEESA COLLIER TONIGHT:

34 POINTS
4 REBOUNDS
3 ASSISTS
12/21 FGM
2/3 3PM
8/8 FTM

pic.twitter.com/MQUYSfUjnq
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 17, 2025

There probably were jitters flying around inside Bueckers, who scored 10 points in the game, before tip-off. She quenched those by scoring the game's first points. While she earned that honor, Collier started making her march toward a WNBA Most Valuable Player award.

She helped the Lynx, who lost to the New York Liberty in last season's WNBA Finals, roll on a 13-1 scoring spurt midway through the third quarter. She wrapped that up with a basket, giving Minnesota a 71-58 lead, The Associated Press reported.

Besides her 20.4 ppg last season, Collier also averaged 9.7 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists. She proved to be a solid all-around player for the Lynx, which is a welcome sight for head coach Cheryl Reeve.

Can Collier keep her play at a high level throughout the WNBA season? Time will tell. Minnesota has a goal already in place: getting back to the WNBA Finals. If the Lynx are to do this, then Collier needs to pull her weight on the court night-in and night-out.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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