Napheesa Collier

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.

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?