Collier Named WNBA’s Top Rookie

Napheesa Collier has become the fifth UConn player to be named Rookie
of the Year by the WNBA.

NEW YORK—What had long been anticipated became official today when Napheesa Collier was named the WNBA’s 2019 Rookie of the Year. Collier, the All-American from UConn who currently plays for the Minnesota Lynx, received 29 of 43 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. She was also a unanimous selection to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

Collier averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.91 steals and 0.94 blocked shots while starting all 34 regular-season games and logging a WNBA-high 33.3 minutes per game. She shot 49.0 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from three-point range and 79.2 percent from the free throw line.

Among WNBA rookies, Collier, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft, ranked second in scoring, rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage and finished third in assists and three-point field goal percentage. She led rookies in steals and ranked fourth in that category among all WNBA players. The O’Fallon, Mo., native became the fourth player in WNBA history to record at least 400 points, 200 rebounds, 75 assists, 50 steals, 25 blocks and 25 three-pointers made in a season. The other three players to reach those totals in a season are Moore, Tamika Catchings and Sheryl Swoopes.

This season, Collier became the first Minnesota rookie selected to the WNBA All-Star Game since Moore in 2011. The 6-1 Collier was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for July and the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Aug. 19-25. She had earlier earned Rookie of the Year accolades from the Associated Press.

Pheesa is the first Lynx player to be named the WNBA’s top rookie since another UConn superstar, Maya Moore, won the award in 2011. In addition, she is the fifth former Husky to be named Rookie of the Year, joining Breanna Stewart (2016), Tina Charles (2010), Diana Taurasi (2004) and Moore on the prestigious list.

—Staff Reports
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