Right after helping the Minnesota Lynx crush the LA Sparks in a 101-78 win, Napheesa Collier shifted the spotlight away from basketball and spoke from the heart about something much heavier.
Just hours before the game, news broke that former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed north of Minneapolis. Authorities say the suspect, Vance Boelter, posed as a police officer before carrying out the attack.
The news clearly hit home for Napheesa Collier.
“It’s a scary time that we’re living in,” she said. “Honestly, the things going on in our country… taking democracy away from the land of the free — that’s supposed to be who we are.”
As a mother, she said these moments hit differently.
“It’s really scary,” she continued. “Raising a kid in a world where she has fewer rights than I had growing up — fewer rights than the people before us — and it just keeps getting worse.”
And for her, this isn’t about politics.
“This is not politics. This is life. It’s morality. It’s human rights, reproductive rights, women’s rights,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important to stand up and fight back.”
The Minnesota Lynx dispatched the Sparks in their 101-78 Commissioner’s Cup win on Saturday, with Napheesa Collier being the biggest contributor with 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
Coach Reeve and Minnesota teams echo Napheesa Collier’s words
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve echoed Napheesa Collier’s thoughts before the game. She said it felt tough to focus on basketball with so much going on in their own backyard.
“The game seems pretty meaningless, certainly with this hitting close to home,” Reeve said. “We’ll go out there and do what we do. But honestly, after the final buzzer, who knows what we’ll come back to. It’s sickening.”
Napheesa Collier led the way on the court, dropping 32 points along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. But the win didn’t carry the usual weight.
In the aftermath, Minnesota’s pro teams stood together. The Lynx, Timberwolves, and Twins all released statements mourning the loss and calling for unity, peace, and safety for everyone — especially those in public service.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
