Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier has won the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award for the first time.
Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic relayed that news on Friday.
Collier, who finished second in the WNBA MVP running behind unanimous winner A’ja Wilson, averaged 20.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per game this season.
She was announced as the Associated Press WNBA Defensive Player of the Year last Sunday.
Now a 68-person panel consisting “media members at national outlets and within the 12 WNBA markets,” per ESPN, has named Collier as this year’s victor of the league award.
Collier, a six-year veteran, has played her entire career with Minnesota. Her accolades include Rookie of the Year honors in 2019, an All-WNBA Second Team nod in 2020 and a spot on the All-WNBA First Team in 2023. The three-time All-Star also finished fourth in the WNBA MVP race last year and helped Team USA win gold at the Summer Olympics this year.
Collier has been sensational both ends of the floor this year, but her defensive performance certainly merits accolades.
Now she’s leading the Lynx in the playoffs. The second-place team went 30-10 and swept the Phoenix Mercury two games to zero in the first round. Collier scored 38 points in Game 1 before dropping 42 more in Game 2.
Up next is a semifinals date with the Connecticut Sun.
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