Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier has been recognized for her hot start to the season, being named the WNBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week to begin the year.
After her red-hot start to the 2025 WNBA regular season, Minnesota Lynx star forward Napheesa Collier has been recognized by the league.
Collier was named the WNBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week on Wednesday for her efforts over the first week of the season. That stretch from May 16-25 resulted in Minnesota opening up the new year undefeated, with Collier putting her name towards the top of the MVP conversation immediately.
In the opening week of the season, Collier kicked off the year averaging 29.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks over 35.0 minutes per game, leading the Lynx to their best start since the 2017 season.
dominant. Queen Phee is the Western Conference POTW. pic.twitter.com/zPA3gOWXof
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 28, 2025
Collier joins Maya Moore (2014) as the only players in franchise history to start the season with four consecutive 20-point performances, also leading the team in scoring in each of the first four contests.
Collier’s latest Player of the Week honor marks her first of the 2025 campaign and the eighth of her career thus far. She moves into second place in franchise history for most weekly awards by any Lynx player.
In the first four games of the year, Collier surpassed the 30-point mark twice while recording a double-double in one of those four contests. Her highest scoring performance took place in the season opener against the Dallas Wings on May 16 when she dropped a season-high 34 points in just 32 minutes.
Collier was the MVP runner-up a season ago and entered this season as one of the early favorites to receive the honor when the year is all said and done. And this start to the campaign only makes a stronger case for Collier to be near the top — if not at the top — of the MVP conversation so far. And better yet? It is resulting in Minnesota continuing to stack up wins behind an undefeated start.
Along with Collier, New York’s Natasha Cloud was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 18.7 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in her first few games with the Liberty.