Souhan: Napheesa Collier’s list of WNBA feats is long but unfinished

The WNBA installed a 28-foot, four-point shot in the All-Star Game on Saturday night. Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who had probably never thought of shooting from 28 feet before, made four of them while captaining the winning team (which she also drafted) and setting an All-Star Game scoring record.

The basketball world has become Collier’s personal H-O-R-S-E playground.

You can bet against her banking in a shot off your sister’s bike and your cousin’s temple, just don’t bet anything you care about, like a house, car or favorite pet.

At 28, Collier has played in four Final Fours, won a college national title, been named WNBA rookie of the year, defensive player of the year and All-Star MVP, won two Olympic gold medals, founded a successful three-on-three league and become vice president of the WNBA players association.

She has also been remarkably durable, missing significant playing time only because of pregnancy.

As the Lynx begin the second half of the season Tuesday night against Chicago at Target Center, Collier has elevated herself to superstar status.

You could say she has nothing left to prove.

For high achievers, exceeding expectations merely increases expectations, so I decided to help Collier in her quest for world domination by giving her a homework assignment:

Win regular-season MVP

As the best player on the league’s best team, Collier is the current favorite to win MVP. Three-time MVP A’ja Wilson is surging, but Collier is a better outside shooter and passer and more versatile defender.

Along with the MVP award would come recognition that Collier has become the best player in the world.

Lead the league in scoring

Collier leads Wilson, 23.2 points per game to 22.3. Wilson is capable of going on a scoring binge, so this race could be close.

Teach others to stay healthy

Collier returned to the court 10 ½ weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Mila. She has remained healthy while many of Minnesota’s best athletes have dealt with incessant injuries.

Maybe other teams should consult the Lynx/Timberwolves organization on player health. The Wolves’ best player, Anthony Edwards, has also been remarkably durable, and he and Collier have shown no interest in the recent basketball trend of “load management” player rest.

Negotiate the CBA

Collier has a difficult job — to push the league toward fairness without damaging the WNBA’s ability to grow.

Earn top seed

Playing a winner-take-all game in Brooklyn last year did not work out well for the Lynx.

Home-court advantage doesn’t always matter in basketball, but when the league commissioner wears a dress featuring the New York City skyline in the deciding WNBA Finals game being played in Brooklyn, you might want to ensure that this year’s finals are decided at Target Center.

Capture a title

Winning it all would elevate Collier’s status among casual fans who might think that Caitlin Clark is the league’s best player.

A title would also mean that Collier is more valuable as an individual than any of the Lynx stars who preceded her.

Every Lynx championship team had at least four Hall of Fame-worthy players on it, considering that Rebekkah Brunson should have already been inducted.

Collier is the only Hall of Famer on the Lynx’s current roster. She isn’t rowing alone, but she wields the biggest oar.

“I think I just look for any weaknesses in my game, things that I feel uncomfortable with when I’m on the court,” she said Monday. “I don’t want to have any of those. I work really hard in the offseason to try to close that gap on things I’m not very good at.”