Napheesa Collier has been a fixture in the USA Basketball program since high school, when she was an All-American at Incarnate Word Academy.
The Minnesota Lynx forward received another international assignment last week when she was selected to the USA World Cup team that will compete next month at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Tournament in Berlin, Germany.
The USA women’s basketball team, which has dominated the international circuit for decades, is seeking its fifth consecutive gold medal at the World Cup and its 12th overall. This will be Collier’s first FIBA Women’s World Cup appearance. She has won five international gold medals during her USA Basketball career, including two Olympic golds. In 2014, Collier won gold at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship and the Youth Olympic Games. In 2015, she won gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup.
The St. Louisan just returned to WNBA action with the Lynx three weeks ago after missing nearly a year due to an ankle injury that required two surgeries. Although the Lynx held the fort well, posting the best record in the league during her absence, Collier’s return has made a strong team even stronger. They became the first team to clinch a playoff berth over the weekend.
In seven games, Collier has averaged 19 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. She is also shooting 51 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
Joining Collier on the World Cup team are Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Kelsey Plum (Phoenix Mercury), Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces).