"Napheesa Collier makes it look easy"- Dawn Staley predicted definite win for the Lynx against Phoenix because of "a Gamecock"
Even when the player has not stemmed from her Gamecocks, Dawn Staley does not shy away from appreciating talent. This is what happened as the Minnesota Lynx hosted the Phoenix Mercury on September 25 at the Target Center.
While Staley was not in the arena, the South Carolina coach took her appreciation for Napheesa Collier to her X fans. Even though she signified the starpower on Mercury's roster, Staley claimed that Collier will not let the Lynx lose the matchup, highlighting that the game comes naturally to the former UConn Huskies forward.
"Hot dog @PHEEsespieces makes it look easy……she does EVERYTHING!! She’s not going to let the Lynx lose this game and we have a Gamecock on the Mercury. 😩😩😩," Dawn Staley wrote.
Napheesa Collier posted a huge 42-point performance in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series. She shot 70.0% from the field (14-20) alongside four assists and team high of five rebounds to lead the Lynx to a 101-88 win and a 2-0 lead in the series.
Collier posted a similar dominating performance in Game 1, churning 38 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 57.9% shooting (11-19).
The “Gamecock on the Mercury” was Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, drafted in 2020 and in her first year with Phoenix. She could not impact the game’s outcome as she was only handed a minute of court time.
Dawn Staley is inspiring her players to play for each other first
The South Carolina Gamecocks have begun practice and Staley has gripped the ropes just like the previous season. In the latest training insight posted by the program, Dawn Staley’s roster is seen holding hands and forming a circle.
With that, the coach inspired the crew to always play for the players around them, support each other, and also make it through their individual battles on and off the court.
"If you put this circle first, if you make decisions based on who is on your right, left, front, if we make decision based on that, I really don't see why you can't get what you set out to get," Staley said in the post.
It is a practice that Staley did last year, which resulted in an undefeated championship run. Moreover, Dawn Staley believes that her 2024-25 roster is capable of bringing another title to the university.