Napheesa Collier

Mizzou. Because yeah, I was from Missouri. And I was like, yes, I'm ready to sign. He's like, you're 14 years old. Let's hold on a little bit. And so he was kind of the voice of reason through that.

Mizzou. Because yeah, I was from Missouri. And I was like, yes, I'm ready to sign. He's like, you're 14 years old. Let's hold on a little bit. And so he was kind of the voice of reason through that.

No, I've honestly always been blessed with really great coaches. So my freshman year of high school, I went to Jeff City High School before I moved to my other school. And I was actually the point guard there. And he was a really tough coach. He was like one of those coaches, exactly like Gina, like a yeller, really tough, expects a lot from you.

No, I've honestly always been blessed with really great coaches. So my freshman year of high school, I went to Jeff City High School before I moved to my other school. And I was actually the point guard there. And he was a really tough coach. He was like one of those coaches, exactly like Gina, like a yeller, really tough, expects a lot from you.

And so when you're with coaches like that, they never let your head get too big. You know, they're always pushing you to be better. And he did. And so I wasn't like I went in there thinking, you know, I'm the best player in the world.

And so when you're with coaches like that, they never let your head get too big. You know, they're always pushing you to be better. And he did. And so I wasn't like I went in there thinking, you know, I'm the best player in the world.

I would say when I got to Minnesota, probably. I mean, I tried in college a little bit, but I was just, I'm not a big, like, vocally, I was not a leader. I think I was, I tried to lead by example. Like, I always try to be the hardest worker and show that way. But I was really uncomfortable with, like, confrontation. So holding back. people accountable, you have to be confrontational.

I would say when I got to Minnesota, probably. I mean, I tried in college a little bit, but I was just, I'm not a big, like, vocally, I was not a leader. I think I was, I tried to lead by example. Like, I always try to be the hardest worker and show that way. But I was really uncomfortable with, like, confrontation. So holding back. people accountable, you have to be confrontational.

And so I feel like I started building the vocal side of it more when I was in Minnesota, because again, Sylvia Fowles was my vet, and her and our coach knew she was retiring soon, so they kind of like set me up for that a couple years before that happened, like saying, you know, you're going to be in this leadership role, we need you to start working on this, this, and this.

And so I feel like I started building the vocal side of it more when I was in Minnesota, because again, Sylvia Fowles was my vet, and her and our coach knew she was retiring soon, so they kind of like set me up for that a couple years before that happened, like saying, you know, you're going to be in this leadership role, we need you to start working on this, this, and this.

And so just like the first step of whatever is admitting you have a problem, like just acknowledging in those situations, That, OK, this is something this is somewhere I can grow. Like this is somewhere where I can say something. And just naturally, I got more and more confident in that.

And so just like the first step of whatever is admitting you have a problem, like just acknowledging in those situations, That, OK, this is something this is somewhere I can grow. Like this is somewhere where I can say something. And just naturally, I got more and more confident in that.

I wouldn't say good. It's something like I it's not natural to me. So it's something I will always have to work on. But I'm definitely way better than I used to be.

I wouldn't say good. It's something like I it's not natural to me. So it's something I will always have to work on. But I'm definitely way better than I used to be.

Yeah, well, I think still like that is not my confrontation style. Like the word is confrontational, but I'm not confrontational about it. I try to come with it from like a point of reason. So see why you're thinking that way and try to like meet you where you're at. So I try to talk through in that way.

Yeah, well, I think still like that is not my confrontation style. Like the word is confrontational, but I'm not confrontational about it. I try to come with it from like a point of reason. So see why you're thinking that way and try to like meet you where you're at. So I try to talk through in that way.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, not my leadership style still. So confrontation is the wrong word then. I feel like I'm more direct. Like if I see a problem, I'll say it. But I'm not like trying to get it where you're riled up and in a fight. I'm trying to reason with you.

Yeah. Yeah, not my leadership style still. So confrontation is the wrong word then. I feel like I'm more direct. Like if I see a problem, I'll say it. But I'm not like trying to get it where you're riled up and in a fight. I'm trying to reason with you.