About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first season of Unrivaled gave Napheesa Collier another way to make her mark beyond the WNBA. The Minnesota Lynx star helped launch the three-on-three league with Breanna Stewart, creating a new place for players to compete during the offseason.
Collier also became the winner of its inaugural one-on-one tournament, earning a $200,000 prize after a demanding run through the bracket . She defeated Katie Lou Samuelson, Rickea Jackson, Courtney Williams and Azurá Stevens before meeting Aaliyah Edwards in the final.
The championship came down to a best-of-three series. Edwards took the opener, but Collier responded with a victory in Game 2 to force a deciding contest. Collier then shut out Edwards, 8-0, to claim the title on Feb. 14, 2025.
Yet Collier's decision after the win became another memorable part of the event. She chose to give $100,000, half of her winnings, to the Lunar Owls' training and performance staff and assistant coaches, as Yardbarker reported .
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The gift recognized people who work behind the scenes to prepare players, support their performance and help keep them on the court. Collier's choice also reflected the league's collaborative foundation. Unrivaled was created to offer WNBA players a domestic offseason option, with its own facilities and support system in Miami.
The players received bonuses, too. Each Lunar Owls teammate earned $10,000 because of Collier's tournament victory, while Edwards received $50,000 as the runner-up. The semifinalists also collected prize money.
Collier's win added to a strong season in the new league. She went on to become Unrivaled's first Most Valuable Player, leading the Lunar Owls through the regular season.
Her $100,000 gift gave the tournament a story beyond the final score. It showed how a personal achievement could also recognize the staff helping build a new league, and turned a prize-winning moment into a gesture of shared appreciation.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: Sports
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