Napheesa Collier remains an influence on Angel Reese despite the Lynx passing on chance to draft her

The Lynx have faced the Sky so frequently — six times since May, including four times in July — that coach Cheryl Reeve joked their matchups feel like “Groundhog Day.”

Napheesa Collier, in particular, has experienced a unique form of déjà vu. Every time she matches up against the Sky’s Angel Reese, she sees her fingerprints all over the young star’s game. A mentor-mentee bond the two formed through Unrivaled, the 3x3 league founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart, has made the competition feel personal — in the best way possible.

“It’s like, I want you to develop, but maybe not against us,” Collier joked Tuesday after the Lynx beat the Sky 91-68 in the last regular-season matchup of the teams. “I mean, I feel like that’s what it is about — paying it forward, especially helping the younger generation to develop, to get better.”

Collier’s impact on Reese is yet another example of the All-Star MVP’s leadership abilities that her coaches and teammates routinely praise.

Reeve said she’s jealous of Collier’s “grace.” Courtney Williams described her as everyone’s “mama” and complimented her “aura.” Natisha Hiedeman said Collier leads by example in a way that feels “seamless.”

The Lynx passed on a chance to draft Reese out of LSU in 2024, trading down and taking Alissa Pili, who has since been waived. Still Reese has benefited from Collier’s mentorship.

Reese worked with Collier and Collier’s husband, trainer Alex Bazzell, in the offseason.

“I remember asking Phee, what was her biggest jump from where she was her rookie year to where she is now? She said it just took time and gave herself grace and just continued to work,” Reese said.

“Over the years, you can see how she continues to evolve as a player, as a person, as a leader, how she’s taken the Minnesota Lynx to where they are right now — it’s because of her and her work."

That advice has clearly paid off in Reese’s sophomore season.

Even in Tuesday’s blowout loss, she recorded her 10th straight double-double — becoming the only player in WNBA history with multiple streaks of 10 or more double-doubles. Her playmaking has evolved, including her ability to take opponents off the bounce and facilitate with creative passes.

Collier said she’s been most impressed with Reese’s ability to go from the wing to the three-point line this season, pointing to more developed ball handling and an improved jump shot.

“When I play her, I take some things from her game,” Reese said, “not just guarding her but also seeing how her footwork is and how smooth she is. She is among the best. I think we’re two different players, for sure, but there are definitely pieces from her game that I love to take.”

At All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, where Reese competed for Team Collier, the Sky standout witnessed Collier’s leadership in collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Collier is vice president of the WNBA players association.

Reese said Collier and the WNBPA leadership have done a “great job” and has “been intentional with everything.” Reese expressed interest in a formal union role in the near future.

“I know how important it is,” she said. “If you don’t say anything, [it’s like] you don’t care. I want it to be known that I care about what’s going on. … They [WNBA leadership] care about our generation, not just theirs, because they don’t know how much longer they’ll be playing.”

And that’s exactly how Collier sees it. During the Lynx’s road trip to Chicago early this month, she called Reese the “future of the league.”