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Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier brings do-it-all game to WNBA title contenders

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For Minnesota Lynx winger Napheesa Collier, it was just like the closing of a chapter in history.

Since joining the WNBA as a rookie in 2019, Collier has watched the organization rejoice the tip of its most successful era in franchise history, an era that brought the Lynx 4 WNBA championships in seven seasons from 2011 to 2017 and featured several basketball legends and Hall of Fame talents who inspired a generation of future WNBA players.

In 2019, Collier saw the team retire Lindsay Whalen’s jersey. Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson had their jerseys retired in 2022. In 2023, it was Sylvia Fowles’ turn.

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On August 24, the Lynx retired Maja Moore’s jersey in front of former players.

Since being named the 2019 Rookie of the Year, Collier has evolved from the long run face of the Lynx to the franchise player of the team, watching and learning from a dynastic era that established a winning culture in Minnesota and being handed the baton to proceed it.

This season, the Lynx (30-10) are doing just that. Behind an MVP-level season from Collier, who joins an elite class of WNBA performers, Minnesota is a title contender. As the Lynx prepare for a first-round playoff game as a No. 2 seed against the No. 7 Phoenix Mercury, they will likely be led by their “humble superstar” in Collier, who has set her sights on making a latest winning chapter in franchise history.

“When we retired (Maya’s jersey), I think that was the last of that generation and that era, so it feels like we’re making our own destiny now — and hopefully we can follow in their footsteps with a championship,” Collier said. “It definitely feels like a possibility for us this year.”

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Minnesota Lynx player Napheesa Collier attacks the basket during a game against the Connecticut Sun on September 17 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images

Before her jersey was retired on Aug. 24, Moore joined the Lynx commentary booth through the second quarter of the night’s contest between Minnesota and the Indiana Fever. When asked about what Collier did, Moore raved about Collier’s selfless nature, her desire to win and the way she supported her teammates.

“I love the spring in her step. She’s just solid. Consistent,” Moore said. “She just knows who she is and how to play.”

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It took Collier a moment to work out who she was as knowledgeable within the WNBA. As she matured as a player, she learned more about herself. With such a high level of talent within the league, she was forced to discover a place to thrive on the WNBA level because what worked for her in college modified at the following level.

“Just finding what I’m best at, where I excel, where my value is on the team and what I can do to be successful,” Collier said. “I think over the years of doing that, I’ve found my space.”

That space, for Collier, saw her play at an MVP level as a two-way handyman for Minnesota. Collier finished the regular season averaging 20.4 points (fourth within the WNBA), 9.7 rebounds (third), 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals (second). Collier said she all the time knew she was able to that level and is glad it happened.

“I think the No. 4 position in this league is one of the best. To be considered for MVP at this level — it’s unbelievable,” Lynx point guard Kayla McBride said. “I think she’s just playing with a little more tenacity this year and the expectations she has for herself, a quiet confidence. I’m always impressed with how she handles that and how she carries it, and she’s definitely taken it to another level this year.”

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Collier has set profession highs in every major statistical category this season. Collier has focused on developing her game this offseason, emphasizing mid-range and improving her 3-point shooting. Previously, Collier’s mid-range shooting volume was limited to 11.8 percent of her 2-point attempts. This 12 months, it’s 17.6 percent.

“I’m still working on the second one,” Collier joked.

Collier’s teammates praise her mentality and work ethic, her consistency and efficiency. Brunson likes Collier’s commitment to development.

“Phee is someone I think is a superstar in this league, but she’s very coachable. She’s become a better defender. She’s become a better perimeter shooter,” said Brunson, a Lynx assistant coach since 2020. “She knows she has her favorite moves, but she still listens to us about the crease she needs to make, the counterattacks she needs to make. She’s still developing.”

Another strength of Collier’s game is her toughness and sturdiness. She’s never really been off the court for the Lynx, which has been the case since she entered the league and averaged 33.3 minutes per game as a rookie. Collier is averaging 2.58 miles, according to Second Spectrum, probably the most of any player this season (minimum 15 games played).

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“She’s so good, you never want to take her out of the game,” Brunson said. “She’s still working on her body, her physicality, making sure she’s stronger and more durable in the offseason. That’s very important. No matter how good you are, if you can’t stay on the field, if you can’t be available for your team, it doesn’t matter. She’s someone you know you can count on. I think that’s definitely the key to this team’s success.”

“When you have a team like that — that really doesn’t care about individual accolades, just the team and winning — number one, it’s really hard to find that in the WNBA, and number two, I think that’s definitely a recipe for greatness.”

— Napheesa Collier

Collier’s miles should not only a measure of her minutes, but her activity in possession. On offense, she averages about 1.42 miles per game, second within the league behind Caitlin Clark (1.46, min. 15 games played this season).

“The hardest thing for me to guard is the guys that move around a lot,” Collier said. “I think just trying to be as active as possible is really tough for the defense to keep up with you and know what you’re doing. That’s definitely something I try to do.”

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Collier can often touch every level of the sector on a single possession and be involved in multiple plays because the Lynx navigate to get one of the best looks. Of the 4 kinds of plays Second Spectrum tracks (handoffs, isolations, picks and post-ups), Collier and New York Liberty wing Breanna Stewart are the one players within the league with greater than 70 plays while playing all 4 plays. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve describes Collier’s brand of offense as “opportunistic.” Sometimes it’s Collier’s ability to exploit defenses which are out of position, other times it’s her flying in from the perimeter to grab an offensive rebound and finish a second-chance point.

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier will play on September 17 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire

In the WNBA’s superteam era, where accumulating star players has been the title-winning strategy for a lot of teams, from the New York Liberty within the East to the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury within the West, the Lynx see themselves because the latter.

“When you beat a team like New York, that’s a superteam, and we’re not a superteam, we’re a collective,” Reeve said after the Lynx beat the Liberty on Sept. 15. Minnesota finished the regular season 2-1 against New York, excluding a Commissioner’s Cup final win over the Liberty in June. “They believe in each other and they believe in our collective. There’s more than one way to be successful.”

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While on paper the team doesn’t have many Olympians or All-WNBA players, it’s not without star talent. The secret’s the team’s composition.

“It all comes down to what we can do as a team to win,” Collier said. “When you have a team like that — that really doesn’t care about individual accolades, just the team and winning — number one, it’s really hard to find in the WNBA, and number two, I think that’s definitely a recipe for greatness.”

The Lynx have considered one of the league’s best defenses. They rank second in defensive rating and steals and first in opponents’ field goal percentage (41%). The defense is anchored by Collier, a contender for this 12 months’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Collier’s defensive impact is clear in her ability to alter opponents’ shots. According to Second Spectrum, she is holding opponents to just 36.2 percent field goal shooting as a closest defender this season, the bottom within the league (amongst 114 players who had 100 field goal attempts against them as a closest defender). Collier ranks third within the league in steals per game and fourth in defensive rebounds (7.5 per game).

“Defensively, being able to take on the challenge of the great centers in our league — whatever we ask of her, she rises to the occasion,” McBride said. “I think she’s just playing with a little more tenacity and the expectations she has for herself this year.”

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Minnesota’s offensive strength comes from balance. The Lynx are second in field goal percentage and the WNBA’s best 3-point shooting team. They have 4 players within the league’s top 10 in 3-point percentage, and forward Bridget Carleton and McBride lead the league amongst players with greater than 190 attempts. Courtney Williams is a number one mid-range threat and leads a team that leads the league in assists.

“I know a lot of times teams focus on me. If I have the ball, I open it up for someone else,” Collier said. “I can go into the center position and do something or pass it to the other side. We have so many threats on the team, it’s impossible to guard all of us.”

With Minnesota in search of its first championship since 2017, the last title won by the previous Lynx dynasty, Brunson said the message to Collier is obvious: No matter who you play, you could have to create your personal legacy.

“I don’t think Phee is thinking about how she fits into what we’ve done. She has her own goals and things she wants to accomplish with this team. I think the most important thing for her is that she understands that,” Brunson said. “Yes, there’s pride in wearing a Lynx uniform, but for her to be in the moment and know what she wants to carve out for herself and her teammates, I think she’s got a great head on her shoulders.”

Collier has emphasized her growth as a locker room leader yearly. She draws on what she learned from the team’s best players, whom she calls one of the best leaders she’s ever had. She’s taken the winning traits she saw playing alongside Augustus and Fowles and has been trying to embody them ever since. She’s grateful to have Brunson coaching her, an countless source of what it takes to win the massive game.

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With Collier leading the way in which, we hope the Lynx team can gain that have first-hand.

“We have the talent to do it,” Collier said. “We just feel like we’re, hopefully, repeating history.”

Sean Hurd is an Andscape author who focuses on women’s basketball. His athletic peak got here at age 10 when he was named camper of the week at Josh Childress’ basketball camp.

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Jalen Milroe can follow the Jalen path in NFL

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Star Black playmakers aren’t any longer an exception – they’re the rule. Throughout the entire football season, this series will discover the importance and influence of black QB from bottom -up to NFL.


Indianapolis-keep me, should you heard it earlier: playmaker Alabama born in Texas, who’s a stronger runner than a passerby, will probably be called outside the first round of the NFL Draft.

The playmaker was undefeated in Sec as a primary -year starter.

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The playmaker never played for the same offensive coordinator.

The name of the playmaker is even Jalen.

But it isn’t clear that Jalen hurts. This winter he was busy winning the Super Bowl MVP, and he didn’t play Iron Bowl or against Michigan.

Instead, it’s a former playmaker of Crimson Tide Jalen Milroewho last week Combine Combine tried to convey the case to the trainers and evaluators that he – like his namesake – is price being their playmaker franchise in the future despite questions on his ability.

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“I went through adversity. I saw everything as a quarterback, “Milroe said on Friday. “I played at the most difficult conference in the country. It would be easier to play at other conferences, but what I could see in Sec catapulted me that I was ready to play NFL. “

Alabama, Jalen Milroe, talks to the media during the NFL mix at the Lucas Oil stadium on February 28 at Indianapolis.

Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Departing from Katy in Texas, she originally got involved in Texas in 2019, but a 12 months later she fell to Alabama. After he was sitting behind the Crimson Tide Starter Bryung for 2 seasons, Milroe took his reins in the 2023 season. He helped Alabama survive Sec (8-0) this 12 months, won by the conference rival and two-time defender Georgia in the SEC championship, which caused Crimson Tide to the play-off collection.

But while Milroe had a big arm (his 10 yards for the test took third place in Sec in 2023), the pass was not his strong suit. For two seasons as a starter Milroe never achieved 3000 yards in one season, the first starter of Alabama, who did it because it … hurts.

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Hurts, from Houston, led Crimson Tide to the National National Championships in 2016–17, but during these two seasons were lower than 5,000 yards. While Hurts was a singular Rusher (1,809 yards and 21 sticks) at the moment, his weakness as a passerby is known for led to the spare Tua Tavailoa during the break of the national championships in 2017.

In the mix, Milroe decided that despite his pedestrian passes, he was still worthy of being a start at NFL.

He is aware of his weaknesses and swore that he worked in the ass to enhance outside being “one dimension.” He could move when his legendary trainer, Nick Saban, retired after the 2023 season, but decided to not fall off. He traveled six miles a day to ensure that that something was left in the fourth quarter in the fourth quarter. He studied progression and reads after I-SNAP to lift his IQ in football.

Unlike the forecast sorts of the first round, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, Milroe threw a mix on Saturday, hoping that he would show the bands that he has mechanics to do that to the playmaker NFL. It turned out to be a mixed bag. Milroe showed strong arm strength and a very good location of sail routes, curls and it while throwing exercises, but fought accuracy on intermediate and on the routes.

“That’s so many things that I can learn more where I am today and where I will be when it comes to day 1, starting with NFL,” said Milroe before Saturday exercises. “Always be a game student, at all times attempt to develop, because it would be so many opportunities in which I can look back and say that it was the moment after I grew up as a playmaker.

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“That’s right now, I’m just trying to grow as much as possible, put my best foot forward and just look for development.”

Jalen Milroe warms up during seniors training at the Hancock Whitney stadium on January 29 at Mobile, Alabama.

Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

Milroe was asked that he was one other playmaker in Alabama to succeed in the mix, following in the footsteps of the role (who moved to Oklahoma in 2019), Tavailoa, Mac Jones and Bryce Young. Milroe said he appreciates being in the company of others, but he added that it’s difficult to check him with others.

“We had different bands, we had different players around us, we had a different system,” he said.

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But when he specifically asked what he could study the journey of Hurts-from the first manager of the game after the super Bowl-Milroe master said he inspired him his companion Alabam.

“The most important thing I learned from J. Hurts is how he kept his head (I) always continued to work,” said Milroe. “He at all times raised his game, he has never been self -deserved, and all the pieces you see is great progress from him.

“And I have to applaud him as a person, he as a man, because he is definitely inspiring for many playmakers of my image, as well as many playmakers throughout the country. He leads to all of us. “

The couple isn’t completely similar. Hurts had about 20 kilos on Milroe when he was in college. Milroe has a stronger arm, while Hurts played more and not using a mistake of football: Milroe threw 17 interceptions and ate 67 bags for 2 seasons as a starter in comparison with 10 captures Hurts and 43 bags.

But they can each be changing the game when their teams need them. In a highly publicized match against Georgia at the starting of the last season, Milroe finished almost 82% of his passes on 374 yards and two appointments, adding 117 yards to the ground for the next two results.

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Milroe can also match the wounds in the so -called “Jalen-ISMS. “

“Climbing upstairs is not easy, but when you reach the top of this mountain, you will learn so many things when it comes to adversity when it comes to difficulties, things along the way,” said Milroe in a mix.

Martenzie Johnson is an older author for Andcape. His favorite film moment is that Django said: “You all want to see something?”

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Like Tommie Smith and John Carlos from 1968. Black Power Salute inspired me to find my goal

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I’d say that I grew up within the household to be sure that that me and my siblings were aware of the black history. My parents invested in the gathering of black encyclopedias. On the duvet we had a version of the Bible with Black Jesus. Our house was stuffed with books of black novelists and thinkers, and if a black document appeared, we watched it. I watched all movies made on television about Dr. King, each “Roots” and “Alex Haley’s Queen” and I sat for all 14 hours “Eyes on the reward”-as a toddler. Bless my heart.

Having said this, there have been pockets of black history, and more likely that I had no opportunity to delve into once I was a toddler. The college was where all the will for information and understanding of the combined. I attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., One of a very powerful historically black universities within the country. It was there that I met people from around the globe whose knowledge about black history differed (often depending on the colleges and the communities by which we lived), but everyone had hunger to learn more.

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One day, through the first yr, I remember one among my friends in a T -shirt by which I had definitely seen before, but I never paid attention to. There was a black and white screen printing on the shirt (what I do know now) the enduring moment on the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968, where on the rostrum for 200-meter medals, Tommie Smith, John Carlos (races 1. And 3. Place Finaners) Everyone gathered a black fist in gloves while he played “Star Spangled Banner”. Peter Norman, the second place from Australia, wore a human rights badge, like Smith and Carlos.

Not only did they raise the fist of black power (although they each said it was for human rights), they received medals in black socks to represent poverty within the black community, and Smith wore a black scarf for black pride. Carlos showed solidarity with blue-wheeled employees, unpacking the jacket and wore a necklace from the beads for individuals who were lynched. Due to the state of Black America in 1968 and a continuing struggle for equality and civil rights, there have been calls to a boycott of the Games. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was also killed in April this yr – and all three athletes were inspired enough to find a way to do it on the rostrum, which led to one of the crucial durable images of public protest.

I remember how I learned history and realized that on the most important scene these brave men used their moment of triumph and victory to quietly protest against the conditions of underrated communities in America. I felt strengthened; We often discuss standing on the arms of giants, however the more I got into the history of black in America, the more I spotted what number of giants there have been. In college I used to be very bad and for a while ready to burn every part that represented the establishment or any obstacle to black liberation. I felt like all those individuals who even saw their space on the planet in reference to individuals who could never give you the option to speak as heroes whose lives were to be modeled later. Especially since it was also fastidiously that putting people in front of him can often bring an enormous personal loss.

When Smith and Carlos took their position, they were booed on the stadium and ordered to be sent home by the International Olympic Committee. The athletes returned home, but they weren’t welcomed by the hero, but as a substitute of rough sleds, and even in some cases the specter of death. They were also not beloved by athletes. Two men, associated eternally in history, even have a good relationship –Carlos even claims that he let Smith go within the race Because “Tommie Smith would never put his fist in the sky if I won this race,” the claim that Smith denies.

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History ultimately has a way of rights, but it surely took a few years and realizations on the front of social policy, in order that the actions of those persons are perceived as brave and needed, not only selfish and smug.

The lessons that I learned from College and continuous reading and education I gained (my head remained within the book about black history) were one among the best advantages in HBCU. The very variety of books I learned about about which I actually have never heard of – I actually have upheld me all my life.

That is why I remember sooner or later I used to be walking around Washington, the eastern Washington market and a street seller was selling different photos of moments in black history, and he had a 40 -inch photo within the Tommie Smith and John Carlos frame. I paid for it in money and spent it across the capital of the country until I returned home. I do know that it happened in 2005 (I finished Morehouse College in 2001) because I just moved to my first apartment with no roommate and it was the very first thing that I actually have ever suspended on the wall. This picture within the frame still hangs on the wall in my home in 2025 and I used it to teach my children about sacrifice and privilege and how you may have to discuss individuals who cannot.

Teenage students of Stax Music Academy Mark 25th anniversary, black history month with a concert

The query that my youngest children often ask: “How do I know who can’t speak for herself?” Which is an incredible query. For this I answered an easy fact, pointing to the photo:

“These men have made a gesture that gave people whose most of us, including them, would never see or never know them, but on which life negatively affects the alternatives of the wealthy and the federal government. Sometimes you may have to take this chance to say something because you do not know in the event you’ll ever have such a big platform.

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Son, there may be at all times someone who cannot speak for himself, and you may have to use it in a voice, because perhaps the thing you say or a stand that can help someone you understand, live a greater life. ”

I take advantage of words that may understand a little bit higher, but I can inform you that my children have a look at this photo on a regular basis, and once one among my sons said: “These guys are heroes, right?”

I say yes, they’re. They are the heroes of the Black History.

They will live eternally for speaking, and even quietly, in solidarity with those that couldn’t.

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Panama Jackson Thegrio.com

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Main Treasury Official Morgan State University, Sterling Steward, died

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Morgan State University, Sterling Steward


Morgan State University announced that his older associate athletics director and tax director, Sterling Steward, died.

No reason for death was disclosed, but the college has confirmed his contribution since he was employed in December 2022.

Steward died on February 26. In Morgan State he was accountable for the event of university programs, supporting partnerships and strengthening the financial and operational success of the Faculty.

“Sterling was more than a colleague-he was a respected leader, mentor and friend,” said in a written statement by Den Freeman-Patton, vice chairman and director of inter-university athletes. “His passion for athletics and commitment to raising Morgan programs were visible in everything he did. He worked tirelessly to ensure that our sports students had resources and the possibilities of distinction, and its impact will be felt for many years. We expand our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, especially his three sons and sister when we mourn this huge loss. “

While the steward worked in Morgan, strategic growth and cooperation occurred. His work with the institutional development department helped to offer more opportunities and created lasting relationships to support sports programs.

Steward earlier he worked At the University of New Orleans (UNO) as an assistant to the college athletics director for strategic income generation. He also made stays on the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Savannah State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Alabama State University, Kentucky State University, Eastern Oregon University and Xavier University in various roles, including for a senior consultant athletics director and sports director.

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He was from New Orleans, who received the title of bachelor and master’s degree on the University of Southern Mississippi. He won a bachelor’s degree in the sphere of coaching and administration/history of sport and his master’s degree in the sphere of sport management.

(Tagstransate) Morgan State Universiry

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