Napheesa Collier

We had like six NBA players on the team still. But he really instilled in us.

We had like six NBA players on the team still. But he really instilled in us.

Yeah, it did. I mean, it did. It taught me how to read the game. And I feel like the next hardest thing was after I had my daughter. That was the hardest physically rehab I've ever done. I don't talk about this a lot, but I thought I was going to not be able to play anymore. Because after I had her, just the rehab after, my body basically retaliated. I could barely bend my knees.

Yeah, it did. I mean, it did. It taught me how to read the game. And I feel like the next hardest thing was after I had my daughter. That was the hardest physically rehab I've ever done. I don't talk about this a lot, but I thought I was going to not be able to play anymore. Because after I had her, just the rehab after, my body basically retaliated. I could barely bend my knees.

So I spent the entire off-season doing rehab. I wasn't even in the gym. I couldn't even practice. I was just doing rehab the whole time. And that was just really hard because I had no plan. after basketball. This had been my whole life. And I was so young, so I thought I had so many years left to play. And then I have this newborn baby that is my first kid. I'm trying to navigate that.

So I spent the entire off-season doing rehab. I wasn't even in the gym. I couldn't even practice. I was just doing rehab the whole time. And that was just really hard because I had no plan. after basketball. This had been my whole life. And I was so young, so I thought I had so many years left to play. And then I have this newborn baby that is my first kid. I'm trying to navigate that.

My life looks totally different. So it was definitely a really hard time. And then I had a great season.

My life looks totally different. So it was definitely a really hard time. And then I had a great season.

Yeah. Uh, so I always wanted to be a young mom. I knew I always wanted kids. And I think it was a little bit of like, you don't know what you don't know, because I got pregnant at the end of whatever, 2021 season. And so I had the whole off season to be pregnant. And one of my favorite players, Sylvia Fowl, is my teammate. I knew she was retiring that next year.

Yeah. Uh, so I always wanted to be a young mom. I knew I always wanted kids. And I think it was a little bit of like, you don't know what you don't know, because I got pregnant at the end of whatever, 2021 season. And so I had the whole off season to be pregnant. And one of my favorite players, Sylvia Fowl, is my teammate. I knew she was retiring that next year.

So that was my goal is to get back so I can play at least one game with her. I just didn't know how hard it was going to be. I thought I was an athlete. I would bounce back. It would be super easy. Not the case. I couldn't work out for the last two months of my pregnancy because I was having some bleeding with Mila. And then, you know, I had her, and you can't work out for six weeks.

So that was my goal is to get back so I can play at least one game with her. I just didn't know how hard it was going to be. I thought I was an athlete. I would bounce back. It would be super easy. Not the case. I couldn't work out for the last two months of my pregnancy because I was having some bleeding with Mila. And then, you know, I had her, and you can't work out for six weeks.

And then I gained a lot of weight because of that. So, like, losing that. And then, of course, I told you, like, my body was hurting. All these hormones are going through your body that I had no idea about. So I played, like, 11 weeks after I had her. And I'm super happy I got to play with Syl. Like, she's such a legend in our game. But, I mean, I would not do it again.

And then I gained a lot of weight because of that. So, like, losing that. And then, of course, I told you, like, my body was hurting. All these hormones are going through your body that I had no idea about. So I played, like, 11 weeks after I had her. And I'm super happy I got to play with Syl. Like, she's such a legend in our game. But, I mean, I would not do it again.

I did have a little bit of postpartum right after I had her, but physically it was just my knees. Something I didn't know is when the hormones in your body, it's a hormone that loosens all your joints so that you can give birth, like the baby can get out. But through that process, everywhere there was a joint, it was so painful.

I did have a little bit of postpartum right after I had her, but physically it was just my knees. Something I didn't know is when the hormones in your body, it's a hormone that loosens all your joints so that you can give birth, like the baby can get out. But through that process, everywhere there was a joint, it was so painful.

Because I was putting so much stress on it, because I was trying to play, and then these hormones are still running through my body, my knees were so swollen. That was what the majority of my rehab was for, was my knees. And the cartilage had worn down so much in that time. My feet and my shoulders, my hips, just everywhere there was a joint, it hurt to bend it at all.

Because I was putting so much stress on it, because I was trying to play, and then these hormones are still running through my body, my knees were so swollen. That was what the majority of my rehab was for, was my knees. And the cartilage had worn down so much in that time. My feet and my shoulders, my hips, just everywhere there was a joint, it hurt to bend it at all.

So obviously you need those things to play basketball. I couldn't even shoot a free throw. It hurt to bend that little. And so we found a really good physical therapist in New York and I just spent the whole off season there. And then, so just dealing with that.

So obviously you need those things to play basketball. I couldn't even shoot a free throw. It hurt to bend that little. And so we found a really good physical therapist in New York and I just spent the whole off season there. And then, so just dealing with that.