Napheesa Collier Wins Big at Unrivaled’s One-On-One Tournament, Earns $275K

The inaugural one-on-one tournament at Unrivaled’s Wayfair Arena in Miami showcased an electrifying display of basketball skill, culminating in a face-off between Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards on Valentine’s Day.

Napheesa Collier, the WNBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, has been using the league as a platform to assert her challenge to Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson for the title of the world’s best player.

Collier, who is averaging 29 points and 11.5 rebounds with the Lunar Owls, demonstrated her elite skills in the final round against Edwards, a promising rookie.

The championship was a best-of-three series, a change from the high-stakes single-elimination format of earlier rounds. Although Edwards won the first game 9-6, Collier showcased her championship pedigree by winning the next two games 9-4 and 8-0.

Her defensive prowess and refined footwork were on full display, underscoring why she is nicknamed “Queen Phee” by Hall-of-Famer Lisa Leslie during broadcasts.

Edwards, on her part, had a remarkable tournament run. She defeated several top contenders, including Breanna Stewart and Arike Ogunbowale, en route to the final. Her journey not only highlighted her skill but also proved financially rewarding; she earned $75,000, surpassing her annual WNBA draft salary.

Collier’s tournament victory brought her $275,000, plus an additional $10,000 for each of her teammates, a sum that exceeds the WNBA’s current Supermax salary cap.

The league, described by Unrivaled’s president of basketball operations Luke Cooper as being “built by basketball players for basketball people,” aims to empower players financially and align with the WNBA’s prioritization rule.

This rule penalizes players for late returns from overseas commitments, a significant aspect for many in the WNBA.

Both Edwards and Collier emphasized the league’s role in changing the landscape of women’s basketball. Edwards appreciated the financial opportunities it provided for North American players, while Collier was focused on the cultural impact, particularly encouraging young women to engage in one-on-one play traditionally seen in men’s games at playgrounds.