Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier was named the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Tear. Collier was a target athlete for a Lynx side that won the Commissioner’s Cup and finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the 2024 playoffs. She started all 34 games she featured in and was in the top 10 of multiple defensive categories.
Commenting on the award, the forward says, "I think it's just having that overall aggression on both sides of the ball. We always are saying defense leads the offense because it lets you get in transition and it lets you push the pace. It lets you get the other team on their heels, so we take a lot of pride in our defense, and it's something that obviously I've worked hard to improve because I know it's what's best for the team."
How Collier Earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award
Collier received 36 votes from a panel of 67 sportswriters and broadcasters ahead of Las Vegas Aces center and 2024 MVP A’ja Wilson (26 votes). Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor came a distant third with three votes while Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington and Minnesota guard Courtney Williams received one vote each.
Collier's 1.91 steals per game came only behind Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale, while her 7.5 defensive rebounds per game was fourth in the league. Besides coming seventh in blocked shots per game (1.41), Collier earned a defensive rating of 94.8 and led Lynx to the second-best scoring defense at 75.5 points allowed per game.
Meanwhile, Collier was the leading scorer for Minnesota with 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, both ranking in the league’s top five. The Lynx forward also finished second in the MVP voting behind Wilson.
Collier's recent award would see her lead the 2024 WNBA all-defensive team. Other players on the first team include Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor, Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington, and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart.
The 2024 WNBA all-defensive second team includes Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas, Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith, Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones, and Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud.
As impressive as Collier has been on the offense, the forward was the leader of a defense that finished second in defensive rating and first in opponents’ effective field goal percentage. Her 32% field goal shooting also made her the closest defender this season, a top feat in the league.
After tying a WNBA postseason record with 42 points in a win over the Mercury, Collier credits her teammates for her overall astounding performance. "I think that stuff just comes from really great teammates. We had so many assists. I think all of my baskets were assisted. My teammates did a great job of finding me and just taking advantage of what the defense was giving us." With such outstanding performance and recognition, Collier is definitely one name fans and pundits would put on their watchlist for the 2024/2025 season.
Final Thoughts
Lynx Napheesa Collier wins the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year after raking 36 votes ahead of 2024 MVP A’ja Wilson’s 26 votes to lead the league’s all-defensive team. The forward also credits her teammate’s input for her overall astounding performance.