“She got to get through me.” That was Courtney Williams’ mindset before facing Napheesa Collier in their Unrivaled 1-on-1 matchup. “They can be tall, they can be short, they can shoot 3s, they can shoot middies. That $200,000 has got a hold on me.” Williams came in, fired up, ready to take on anyone in her path. But Collier? She had other plans. By the time the clock hit zero, the Minnesota Lynx star didn’t just get through her—she completely shut her down.
The moment was perfectly captured by Unrivaled Basketball: “PHEE FADE FOR THE DUB Napheesa Collier vs. Courtney Williams 12 – 4.” Collier entered this face-off already rolling, fresh off a tough win over Rickea Jackson. In that game, she controlled both ends of the floor, shooting 44.4% from the field, grabbing 5 boards, and adding a block and a steal.
That set the tone for Collier’s next challenge.
PHEE FADE FOR THE DUB
Napheesa Collier vs. Courtney Williams 12 – 4 pic.twitter.com/jR9NTpxeVc
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) February 12, 2025
Siding high from an 11-9 victory over Rhyne Howard, Williams came in confident. They have shared the court for years too as Lynx teammates. But Collier wasn’t fazed. By the 4:50 mark, the co-founder had already built a 10-4 lead. Then, with a smooth fadeaway jumper, she made a basket to grab those final two points and shut the door on Williams, sealing a 12-4 win.
The numbers tell the story. Collier shot 50% from the field (6-12), while Williams struggled at just 20% (2-10). Both players pulled down seven rebounds, but Collier’s defensive impact was undeniable—she blocked a shot, forced tough looks, and drew three fouls while committing just two. Williams never found her rhythm, and Collier took full advantage.
Now, one teammate out of the way, the 4x All-Star has another player she shared a court with to tackle. In a UConn-heavy semi-finals, Collier is set to take on fellow Husky, Azura Stevens on February 14. They shared the court for two seasons before the latter made it to the W. That could be a disadvantage if your opponent is aware of your moves and tricks, but as Collier says: “You can be familiar, but you still have to stop me.”
She has indeed been unstoppable, leading the league in scoring with an average of 29.3 points. Stevens has made her case too with 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds. Matter of time until we see who gets the bragging rights and the shining sum.
Napheesa Collier shines as fun meets fierce competition
Natasha Cloud summed it up perfectly: “I love how competitive we all are.” And that’s exactly what makes Unrivaled so special—it’s a league where fierce competition and genuine camaraderie collide. Collier, who co-founded Unrivaled with Breanna Stewart, admits the league is more than just games.
“A lot of recruiting happens here,” she shared on Sports Are Fun! with Kelley O’Hara. “We’re all in one place, sharing communal spaces. Conversations just flow naturally.” From locker room chats to shared meals, players are building bonds that could reshape WNBA rosters. And the tea? It spills way before it hits social media.
Take Brittney Griner’s move to the Atlanta Dream, for example. After 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, Griner shocked the WNBA world by signing a one-year deal with the Dream. Unrivaled even captured the moment she broke the news to her new teammates—Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada—while chilling on a boat! Of course, they are fierce on the court, but they is where they are limiting it to.
From intense 1-on-1 battles to behind-the-scenes bonding, Unrivaled is proving to be the perfect blend of competition and connection. And for fans, it’s a front-row seat to the future of women’s basketball.
The post Napheesa Collier Shuts Down Minnesota Teammate, Paving the Way for a UConn Showdown in the Unrivaled Semifinal appeared first on EssentiallySports.
