Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier continues redefining athlete leadership after winning UNRIVALED’s inaugural 1-on-1 tournament on February 14, 2025 – then immediately donating half her $200,000 prize money to support staff members of her Lunar Owls team.
The 28-year-old forward co-founded the groundbreaking 3-on-3 basketball league with Breanna Stewart in 2023 to create better offseason opportunities for WNBA players. Her selfless act came just weeks after leading Team USA to back-to-back Olympic gold medals in Paris and completing a historic 2024 WNBA season where she:
- Won Defensive Player of Year honors
- Set playoff scoring records (285 postseason points)
- Became first player to lead playoffs in points, rebounds, steals and blocks
“I wanted to recognize the incredible staff making UNRIVALED possible,” Collier told ESPN sources . The $100,000 redistribution benefits trainers, performance coaches, and assistant coaches working behind the scenes at the Miami-based league.
This milestone caps Collier’s transformative year as both athlete and entrepreneur. Her UNRIVALED league – featuring innovative 3v3/1v1 formats – has already influenced WNBA contract negotiations by demonstrating player demand for enhanced training facilities and domestic competition options .
With her Lynx currently preparing for the 2025 WNBA season and UNRIVALED’s first championship approaching in March, Collier remains focused on growing women’s basketball: “When we lift each other up, everyone wins.”
