Napheesa Collier delivered an unforgettable performance in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, leading the Minnesota Lynx to a thrilling victory over the New York Liberty.
Collier’s Stellar Performance:
In a nail-biting overtime battle, Collier was unstoppable. She racked up 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out two assists, snagged three steals, and blocked six shots. Her crowning moment came with just 8.8 seconds left on the clock when she nailed a tough turnaround shot that sealed the game at 95-93 for the Lynx.
Napheesa Collier. That's the tweet.
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20)
Post-Game Reflections:
After the game, ESPN’s Holly Rowe caught up with Collier to talk about how they managed to pull off such a win despite being worn out from their previous series. Collierโs response was simple yet powerful: โYou canโt think about it. This is the Finals. No one cares if youโre tired.โ
"This is the Finals, no one cares if you're tired."
โNapheesa Collier on winning Game 1 in OT after playing a Game 5 on Tuesday ๐ฅ
— ESPN (@espn)
Overcoming Challenges:
The Liberty had more rest before this matchup since they wrapped up their conference finals in four games. In contrast, the Lynx went through all five games in their series and only secured their spot on Tuesday.
Fans love how athletes push through challenges like these!
For Collier, who earned both Defensive Player of the Year honors and Olympic gold this year, fatigue wasn’t an excuse. Her determination mirrors that of another basketball star from Minnesota known for his relentless drive.
Sometimes we wonder if there’s something special in Minnesota’s water that fuels these athletes!
