Napheesa Collier

I had a pick of sports to stick with when I was in high school, and I'm like, I'm the best at basketball. I'll stick with basketball. It turned into like, OK, I want to get my school paid for. And then I get to go to college. I'm like, oh, this is the best school. And then once you get there, I'm like, OK, I have a chance to be a professional athlete.

I had a pick of sports to stick with when I was in high school, and I'm like, I'm the best at basketball. I'll stick with basketball. It turned into like, OK, I want to get my school paid for. And then I get to go to college. I'm like, oh, this is the best school. And then once you get there, I'm like, OK, I have a chance to be a professional athlete.

Like so I kind of just took it one step at a time. It's not like I'm like my ultimate goal is to be a WNBA player.

Like so I kind of just took it one step at a time. It's not like I'm like my ultimate goal is to be a WNBA player.

I've had a lot, but not all. I mean, going to my rookie year, I had a goal to be rookie of the year because there's just so much happening that year. I mean, you're going from college to a new team, new city, new everything.

I've had a lot, but not all. I mean, going to my rookie year, I had a goal to be rookie of the year because there's just so much happening that year. I mean, you're going from college to a new team, new city, new everything.

Yeah, I know. Well, that's why I'm like, I need something to focus me. Like, I want to be Rookie of the Year. And I had a horrible preseason, actually. I think I had four points between both the games. And I felt like how I did my freshman year at college. But, like, luckily I was able to – I had been there before. I was able to recognize it. I'm like, I'm never feeling that way again.

Yeah, I know. Well, that's why I'm like, I need something to focus me. Like, I want to be Rookie of the Year. And I had a horrible preseason, actually. I think I had four points between both the games. And I felt like how I did my freshman year at college. But, like, luckily I was able to – I had been there before. I was able to recognize it. I'm like, I'm never feeling that way again.

So I came out my first game. I'm like, I don't care. I'm just going to play basketball. And I never looked back in that sense.

So I came out my first game. I'm like, I don't care. I'm just going to play basketball. And I never looked back in that sense.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, I was feeling not confident because it was essentially the same situation. You're going in where everyone's better than you again. They have more experience. You're the freshman again. And there's a new system, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, I'm just playing not confidently. And that's the feeling I don't like is not being confident in what you're doing. It makes you second guess everything.

Yeah, I was feeling not confident because it was essentially the same situation. You're going in where everyone's better than you again. They have more experience. You're the freshman again. And there's a new system, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, I'm just playing not confidently. And that's the feeling I don't like is not being confident in what you're doing. It makes you second guess everything.

It's the worst feeling. And so I recognized that's what was happening. I'm like, I'm not doing a whole other season like this.

It's the worst feeling. And so I recognized that's what was happening. I'm like, I'm not doing a whole other season like this.

Like is that the worst mentally that I've been to this?

Like is that the worst mentally that I've been to this?

No, I mean, I do just like everyone. I think it like comes and goes. But for me, being able to recognize it is like great for me because I feel myself like especially you get that like midseason slump where you're not in the gym the same because you're tired. You're going from game to game. You're not getting in the same reps. So like you feel less confidence.

No, I mean, I do just like everyone. I think it like comes and goes. But for me, being able to recognize it is like great for me because I feel myself like especially you get that like midseason slump where you're not in the gym the same because you're tired. You're going from game to game. You're not getting in the same reps. So like you feel less confidence.