'She’s on a Mission': Napheesa Collier Extends MVP-Level Start for Minnesota Lynx in Win Over Dallas Wings

With the Wings closing the gap late—cutting the lead to just two points with under a minute remaining—Collier calmly stepped to the line and hit two clutch free throws to seal the result. It capped off a dominant stretch in which she went 6-for-6 from the stripe in the final quarter alone.

“They were flooding the paint a lot,” Collier said. “So just trying to slow myself down, be patient, and hit open shooters. When they rotate like that, it’s about making the right read.”

Collier did much of her damage in the third quarter, shooting 5-of-6 in the paint while shouldering the offense. Her presence was equally important on the defensive end, where Minnesota tightened up in the fourth—forcing five turnovers and holding Dallas to just 15 points in the frame.

“We had moments where we couldn’t stretch the lead,” head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “But Napheesa was the one leading the break, putting us in good positions. Defensively, she’s so active.”

The Lynx also held a 22-8 advantage in fast break points and won the rebounding battle, 43-27, with Jessica Shepard pulling down a game-high 10 boards.

Minnesota Lynx Offer Balanced Support

Williams contributed across the board with 11 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists—including five rebounds in the final two minutes. Natisha Hiedeman added 10 points and eight assists, extending her WNBA-leading active streak to 179 consecutive games played. Alanna Smith scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with six rebounds and two blocks.

Collier praised the group’s composure when Dallas made its late run.

“I think our team is really good at staying steady,” she said. “We’re not pointing fingers when mistakes happen. We just try to fix it on the next play. That’s one of our superpowers, honestly.”

The Wings dropped to 0-3 despite a breakout night from rookie Paige Bueckers, who tallied 12 points and 10 assists—becoming just the third rookie in league history to record a 10-point, 10-assist game within her first three appearances. Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 21 points and made five 3-pointers, becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 500 made threes, tying Diana Taurasi at 198 games.

Minnesota now turns its attention to Friday night’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun. With Collier setting the tone on both ends, the Lynx are showing signs of a team capable of much more than just a strong start.