Napheesa Collier

And the practice player we were playing against, he got a rebound. The coach stops practice. He's like, Faisa, that's why you didn't play last year. That's why you'll never play this year. And that's why you'll never be good here. Get a fucking rebound. I was like, cool. The one thing I could do right. But it made me into the player I am today.

And the practice player we were playing against, he got a rebound. The coach stops practice. He's like, Faisa, that's why you didn't play last year. That's why you'll never play this year. And that's why you'll never be good here. Get a fucking rebound. I was like, cool. The one thing I could do right. But it made me into the player I am today.

It taught me how to read the game, how to be a smart basketball player. Because he would always say, it's funny, because my freshman year, Stewie was a senior. That's when they had won four championships in a row, never been done. And after they graduated, he's like, well, all the talent's gone, so you guys need to be smarter because we don't have any more talented basketball players.

It taught me how to read the game, how to be a smart basketball player. Because he would always say, it's funny, because my freshman year, Stewie was a senior. That's when they had won four championships in a row, never been done. And after they graduated, he's like, well, all the talent's gone, so you guys need to be smarter because we don't have any more talented basketball players.

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.