Napheesa Collier

And then like with Mila, just the struggles of like new parenthood, you know, just trying to figure that out was just obviously really stressful. You're running on way less sleep than I ever have before. That's a huge thing for recovery as well. And so it was just a kind of a scary time for my career in that point because it was like a race also. to be ready for the season.

And then like with Mila, just the struggles of like new parenthood, you know, just trying to figure that out was just obviously really stressful. You're running on way less sleep than I ever have before. That's a huge thing for recovery as well. And so it was just a kind of a scary time for my career in that point because it was like a race also. to be ready for the season.

Because I'm like, if I still feel this way in the beginning of the season, I cannot play. So it was just kind of stressful in that sense.

Because I'm like, if I still feel this way in the beginning of the season, I cannot play. So it was just kind of stressful in that sense.

It was actually, we were in Missouri. Both my husband and I are from there. We were in a church gym and I was like trying to get warmed up to work out. And I'm like, I literally can't even run down the court. It's that painful. And I started crying. Like my husband's there. I'm like, If it feels like this, there's no way I can play. And I know I have a high pain tolerance.

It was actually, we were in Missouri. Both my husband and I are from there. We were in a church gym and I was like trying to get warmed up to work out. And I'm like, I literally can't even run down the court. It's that painful. And I started crying. Like my husband's there. I'm like, If it feels like this, there's no way I can play. And I know I have a high pain tolerance.

I play through a lot of injuries and things.

I play through a lot of injuries and things.

Exactly. This is not like a training issue. This is my body, and I don't know what to do.

Exactly. This is not like a training issue. This is my body, and I don't know what to do.

No, I think he realized right away, because, again, when you're talking about toughness, I know I'm physically tough. Like, I know that is something.

No, I think he realized right away, because, again, when you're talking about toughness, I know I'm physically tough. Like, I know that is something.

So, like, if I'm crying about it, he knows something's wrong. So, we got on the phone with my trainer in Minnesota, and, like, we just try to figure out a plan. do all we can until the season starts. And if you're still feeling this way, then we take the next steps. But I knew I'm like, if I feel this way, I can't play.

So, like, if I'm crying about it, he knows something's wrong. So, we got on the phone with my trainer in Minnesota, and, like, we just try to figure out a plan. do all we can until the season starts. And if you're still feeling this way, then we take the next steps. But I knew I'm like, if I feel this way, I can't play.

How was he taking that?

How was he taking that?

He's pretty positive. He's like, let's just see what, you know, the doctors say, see what the therapists say. And, you know, obviously I'm trying to keep that mindset as well, but it's scary. And I just knew, like, I cannot play if I feel like this. And that's like saying a lot.

He's pretty positive. He's like, let's just see what, you know, the doctors say, see what the therapists say. And, you know, obviously I'm trying to keep that mindset as well, but it's scary. And I just knew, like, I cannot play if I feel like this. And that's like saying a lot.

So I try to do it like one step at a time, like him and my trainer from Minnesota were saying, like, let's just see what the therapists say. Let's just do this rehab and try to push through as much as we can.

So I try to do it like one step at a time, like him and my trainer from Minnesota were saying, like, let's just see what the therapists say. Let's just do this rehab and try to push through as much as we can.