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Boston Globe
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The Minnesota Lynx won four WNBA championships from 2011-17. Will Napheesa Collier lead them to another this season?
The Lynx pictured Collier being next in a long lineage. 'Knowing that the team was being passed to me in a way that they had kind of primed me for that leadership,' Collier said, 'that just brings a different mind-set where you have to be more aggressive.' In seven seasons, she's done nothing but prove the Lynx right. Advertisement Collier is a five-time All-Star ( NAPHEESA COLLIIIIER 🔥🔥 36 PTS. 9 REB. NEW SCORING RECORD. And your — WNBA (@WNBA) On top of that, as vice president of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, Collier has been instrumental in the players' push for a larger share of revenue in an era of growth and expansion. And she's doing that while also being a co-founder of 'She's gone from 2019, the rookie learning how to lead, to look where she is now,' Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. 'Being an entrepreneur with Unrivaled really elevated her, being a part of the [WNBPA] executive committee, representing the entire league as part of a group that is trying to bring the league forward. She has grown so much.' Advertisement The Lynx have made the playoffs in all but one of Collier's seven seasons. (She missed much of the 2022 season while on maternity leave). But that was never the ceiling. 'I think there's been high expectations since I got here,' Collier said at All-Star weekend. 'Even in our 'rebuilding years,' we still had four championships, so there was like residual vengeance from other teams where now they feel like they could beat up on us.' That didn't last long. The Lynx won the Commissioner's Cup last season, then marched to the WNBA Finals, coming within a win of what would have been a record fifth title. This season, they've been a machine, a league-best 20-4. They have the league's best net rating (plus-12.4), and they're dangerous from essentially everywhere on the floor (67.9 percent shooting in the paint, 41.6 from midrange, and 35.1 percent on 3-pointers, all second in the league). Collier is putting together another season worthy of MVP consideration, averaging 23.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, scoring from all three levels, while being a top-10 rebounder and top-five rim protector (1.6 blocks per game). 'She is so graceful, no matter what the movement is,' Reeve said. 'Even when she's trash talking. It's very graceful when you look at it. I don't have that in just a half of my pinkie, the level of grace that she has.' Advertisement And with the Lynx hunting another title — their first in the Collier era — nothing has changed, including the expectations. 'I feel like we're back more in that top-dog spot,' Collier said. 'I don't really feel like that ever went away. So it feels natural to the Lynx, and I think they always embrace it. When there's a target on your back, it means you're good and people want to be where you are. So, that's a good place to be.' Appointment viewing Atlanta Dream at Las Vegas Aces, Tuesday, 10 p.m.: The Aces, hanging on to the eighth spot in the standings, are trying to shake off an underwhelming first half. They get a chance to make up some ground against the Dream, who are two games ahead in the standings. Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty, Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Expect a shootout between the top two 3-point-shooting teams in the league. Both teams average 10 threes per game. Seattle Storm at Washington Mystics, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.: Earlier this month, the Storm blew a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Mystics. Now that Mystics rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron are All-Stars, it's hard to imagine they'll sneak up on anyone in the second half. Julian Benbow can be reached at
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Minnesota takes on Chicago, aims for 5th straight home win
Associated Press Chicago Sky (7-15, 1-9 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (20-4, 14-2 Western Conference) Minneapolis; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lynx -13; over/under is 163.5 BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota Lynx will try to keep its four-game home win streak alive when the Lynx face Chicago Sky. The Lynx have gone 12-0 at home. Minnesota ranks fourth in the WNBA averaging 9.3 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 35.1% from deep. Kayla McBride leads the team averaging 2.6 makes while shooting 37.7% from 3-point range. The Sky are 3-9 in road games. Chicago has a 1-11 record against teams over .500. Minnesota is shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 1.3 percentage points higher than the 44.5% Chicago allows to opponents. Chicago has shot at a 42.1% rate from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points higher than the 41.2% shooting opponents of Minnesota have averaged. The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Lynx won 91-78 in the last meeting on July 15. Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 29 points, and Angel Reese led the Sky with 22 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Collier is scoring 23.2 points per game and averaging 7.6 rebounds for the Lynx. Courtney Williams is averaging 15.8 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games. Reese is averaging 14 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Sky. Rachel Banham is averaging 11.9 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Lynx: 8-2, averaging 86.5 points, 34.1 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.8 points per game. Sky: 4-6, averaging 80.2 points, 38.5 rebounds, 19.1 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.2 points. INJURIES: Lynx: Karlie Samuelson: out for season (foot). Sky: Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. recommended Item 1 of 2
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Minnesota takes on Chicago, aims for 5th straight home win
Chicago Sky (7-15, 1-9 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (20-4, 14-2 Western Conference) Minneapolis; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lynx -13; over/under is 163.5 BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota Lynx will try to keep its four-game home win streak alive when the Lynx face Chicago Sky. The Lynx have gone 12-0 at home. Minnesota ranks fourth in the WNBA averaging 9.3 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 35.1% from deep. Kayla McBride leads the team averaging 2.6 makes while shooting 37.7% from 3-point range. The Sky are 3-9 in road games. Chicago has a 1-11 record against teams over .500. Minnesota is shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 1.3 percentage points higher than the 44.5% Chicago allows to opponents. Chicago has shot at a 42.1% rate from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points higher than the 41.2% shooting opponents of Minnesota have averaged. The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Lynx won 91-78 in the last meeting on July 15. Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 29 points, and Angel Reese led the Sky with 22 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Collier is scoring 23.2 points per game and averaging 7.6 rebounds for the Lynx. Courtney Williams is averaging 15.8 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games. Reese is averaging 14 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Sky. Rachel Banham is averaging 11.9 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Lynx: 8-2, averaging 86.5 points, 34.1 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.8 points per game. Sky: 4-6, averaging 80.2 points, 38.5 rebounds, 19.1 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.2 points. INJURIES: Lynx: Karlie Samuelson: out for season (foot). Sky: Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
How the Hot Pink Haze of StudBudz Took Over WNBA All-Star Weekend
A neon pink cloud rolled toward me, illuminating the dimly lit Indianapolis convention center in which I stood. Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, dressed in matching blush track suits and fuchsia hair, made their way through a sea of euphoric fans participating in an activation put on by Unrivaled (the 3x3 league created by their Lynx teammate Napheesa Collier). Tenzin, a member of the pair's management team, followed close behind with a phone held horizontally, nestled casually in the palm of her hand. If one wished to interview Williams and Hiedeman over WNBA All-Star weekend, that meant joining the duo's 72-hour Twitch livestream, entitled StudBudz (which doubles as a nickname for the pair). As I asked Williams and Hiedeman about their webcast's meteoric rise to becoming a cultural phenomenon around the W, I felt an existential pang as an itch took hold of my brain that I couldn't quite scratch. To bear witness to the StudBudz was to assume a minor role as an extra in their Twitch universe. It was all very meta, which is precisely what had made StudBudz the WNBA media juggernaut it has become. StudBudz-much like the league the duo plays in, and the players the livestream highlighted-is queer. Yes, many of the league's players and fans are gay, but the culture surrounding the WNBA was also built on an elemental queerness. It's part of why the league is endlessly entertaining, joyful, subversive and holds a singular place in American culture. But that fact was not always embraced, and players weren't always encouraged to freely express themselves. Williams and Hiedeman offered an unflinching, all-access pass into what has long been the league's essence, but still beholding it in all its unedited glory in 2025 was simply delightful. The fact that this generation-defining piece of WNBA content occurred on Twitch is also notable. If the medium is the message, then StudBudz is a show for our time. The platform has recently evolved into something of a town square, with various Twitch personalities, like Hasan Piker, dominating the recent political discourse. Many online pundits, often young men, sit for hours on their respective streams, dispensing and commenting on the day's news as a graveyard of various beverages accumulates before them. StudBudz flipped that formula on its head while staying true to the platform's spontaneous ethos. Twitch's webpage is ornamented with purple accents and lined with a nonstop rolling chat. It's the stuff of brain-rot's dreams and Foucault's nightmares, but the ad-hoc look, sporadic emojis and lo-fi vibes fit so seamlessly into a pop culture ecosystem that simultaneously reveres nonchalance and is obsessed with authenticity. Williams and Hiedeman met their audience where it was at, creating an utterly raucous and random show. When asked for one word to describe the weekend, in unison, Williams and Heideman exclaimed, "Lit!" That much was evident as a hot pink haze wafted into Sports Illustrated's All-Star afterparty on Saturday night. Much like how I met them, the pair floated through the dark, cavernous space, immediately bringing to life a drowsy party. Williams jumped onstage, joining Grammy-award winning artist Diplo, holding the crowd in the palm of her hand, almost as if to say, this is how it's done. There's something to be said for people who know how to curate fun, I thought, when I felt a bump on my shoulder. I turned to find a man holding a phone attached to a tripod pointed in my direction with Hiedeman dancing in the vicinity. "We were definitely just on StudBudz," I heard over a thumping bass. More WNBA on Sports Illustrated This article was originally published on as How the Hot Pink Haze of StudBudz Took Over WNBA All-Star Weekend. Copyright ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lynx guard Courtney William's surprised reaction to WNBA All-Star selection
The post Lynx guard Courtney William's surprised reaction to WNBA All-Star selection appeared first on ClutchPoints. Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams had a memorable Sunday, both on the court versus the Chicago Sky, and off the court before the game. Earlier in the day, Williams learned she had been selected as a WNBA All-Star for the second time in her career and the first time as a member of the Lynx. However, the news almost didn't reach her. She ignored the initial call from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, not recognizing the number. When Engelbert called again and introduced herself, Williams responded with, 'Cathy who?', as reported by Kent Youngblood of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Still skeptical once she heard the news, she added, 'No, ain't no way you're calling my phone saying that.' Hours later, the selection was confirmed — and Williams celebrated the best way she knew how: by leading the Lynx to an 80-75 win over the Sky. She tied her season high with 25 points, shooting 10-for-17 from the field and adding eight rebounds and six assists. 'So I told her, 'Playing like an All-Star is good,'' Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. Reeve, who will coach Team Caitlin Clark at the upcoming All-Star Game in Indianapolis, expressed disappointment that only Williams and Napheesa Collier were selected from a team that now leads the WNBA at 17-2. Minnesota's win on Sunday also set a franchise record with 11 straight home wins to begin a season, surpassing the 10-home-game streak from the 2013 championship team. Collier added 21 points and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, extending her franchise-record free throw streak to 45. The Sky were led by Angel Reese, who posted her 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and 17 rebounds. Rachel Banham hit six 3-pointers and scored 20 points for Chicago. The Lynx, despite playing their fifth game in eight days, erased a 14-point first-quarter deficit to maintain their stronghold on the WNBA standings. Information from the Associated Press contributed to this article. Related: Napheesa Collier credits Lynx's 'poise' in win vs. Valkyries Related: Napheesa Collier fires back at conspiracy theory
