Napheesa Collier is the Lynx key to sustained success and a shot at the WNBA Finals
MINNEAPOLIS — One aspect of the 2019 WNBA draft that still stands out today is the parity of talent between the top six picks.
According to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, there was no consensus No. 1 pick, an opinion that No. 6 overall pick from the 2019 draft Napheesa Collier backed up.
"The years before you knew who was going to go one and two," Collier said. "I had no idea who was going No. 1. We were all in the same boat where we didn't know where people were going to land."
Hindsight is 20/20.
For the Sky the reality of that delayed clarity is painful. Instead of drafting Collier with the No. 4 pick in the draft they took shooting guard Katie Lou Samuelson. A year later, she was traded to the Wings.
All the while Collier has developed into an MVP caliber player and the key to the Lynx sustained success after one of the greatest dynasties the WNBA has ever seen.
Reeve could teach a master class on how to turn around a franchise in record time.
She has missed the playoffs twice since taking over as coach in 2010, her first season and last season. In her 14-year tenure, the Lynx have finished No. 1 in league standings six times and made it to the Finals every one of those seasons. They won four of them.
The breakup of the Lynx dynasty began first with Maya Moore's unofficial retirement after the 2017 WNBA title. By 2020 all that was left of the Lynx monster starting five — Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles — was Fowles. That season, they made it all the way to the semifinals despite the drastic shift in personnel.
This season, Reeve has the Lynx top three in league standings after finishing sixth last year and just two years removed from failing to make the postseason altogether.
"I really think if you go back and we didn't get Phee, what does it look like?"
That was Reeve's question in response to one about the key to the franchise's quick return to title contention.
Reeve credits Collier for this current iteration of Lynx success. Collier credits Reeve's knack for recruiting a very specific type of player.
"You want talented people but you also want people who are going to buy into the system and buy into what we're doing," Collier said. "That's why it's also so enjoyable to be here, too."
With three weeks left until the postseason, the standings could still see major shifts. The Sky are barely hanging on to the eighth and final playoff spot. One thing that won't change is the Lynx very real shot at making it to the finals in October.
"I really think we could win," Collier said.
Two stacks
Diamond DeShields joined the WNBA's 2,000 career points club on Friday. She finished with six points and two rebounds in the Sky's 100-81 loss to the Fever.
Over the last four years, DeShields has overcome significant injury and a major health scare. A grape-sized tumor was discovered on her spinal cord. The surgery to remove the tumor impacted DeShields nerves leading to involuntary spasms and body tremors.
DeShields helped the Sky to their first WNBA title in 2021, averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists that season. In 2022 she averaged 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Mercury.
After sitting out last season due to a knee injury, DeShields is averaging 4.3 points and 1.3 rebounds for the Sky coming off the bench.