She was drafted by the Dallas Wings as the first overall pick of the 2021 WNBA Draft.[6] She was waived by the Wings after her second season in the WNBA after seeing limited playing time and averaging less than 3 points per game.[7]
High school career
Collier was a four-year letter winner for Barbers Hill High School in the greater Houston area. She was ranked the nation's top player in the Class of 2018 according to Prospects Nation and the Blue Star Report, and the No. 2 Player by espnW Hoop Gurlz.
Collier was a 2018 McDonald's All-American,[8] a Jordan Brand Classic participant[9] and the 2017–18 Gatorade State Girls Basketball Player of the Year.[10] She was a USA Today All-USA Texas Girls Basketball First-Team Selection in 2018 and was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Award.
Collier finished her prep career with 3,539 points and 1,406 rebounds.
As a freshman in 2014–15, she averaged 17.3 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game and 1.7 blocks per game to help her team to a 28–4 record and a Region 5A semifinals appearance.
As a sophomore in 2015–16, Collier averaged 24.6 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game to help Barbers Hill to a 27–8 record and an appearance in the Region 5A semifinals. She was named the 2016 UIL District 21-5A Offensive MVP and was an All-District selection.
As a junior in 2016–17, she helped Barbers hill to a 34–5 record, including an 18–0 record in District 21-5A, as her squad advanced to the Texas Class 5A state semifinals. She averaged 23.8 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game and 3.0 blocks per game. Collier was named to the 2017 UIL Class 5A State All-Tournament Team and was a nominee for the Gatorade Player of the Year Award.
As a senior in 2017–18, Collier averaged 30.9 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game, 2.3 steals per game, 2.2 blocks per game and 2.0 assists per game in leading her team to a 38–3 record and an appearance in the Class 5A, Region 3 tournament semifinals.
College career
Collier played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns. As a freshman in 2018–19, Collier played in 31 games with one start, averaging 14.4 minutes per game. She averaged 4.9 points per game, Collier scored in double figures on eight occasions during the year and led the Longhorns with 20 blocks.
Collier didn't see the playing time or success in her freshman season that she had hoped, and struggled adjusting to the timing and physicality of the collegiate game. Instead of looking to transfer, Collier turned inward and focused on improving.[11] Through that experience, Collier has transformed herself into one of the nation's top players.
Collier had a breakout game in her team's win against No. 1 Stanford on December 22, 2019.[12] She brought down a career-high 19 rebounds and scored a game-high 20 points in 37 minutes of play. The 19 rebounds were the eighth-most in a single game in program history. For her efforts, Collier earned espnW and USBWA National Player of the Week honors.[13][14]
Collier turned in one of the best sophomore seasons in program history, ranking third in rebounds (314) and eighth in blocks (39) among Texas sophomores all-time.
In her junior season, Collier was the only NCAA Division I player to average at least 20.0 points per game and 12.0 rebounds per game.[15] She has increased her points per game average by more than eight points from her sophomore to her junior season. Collier has recorded 20 or more points on 16 occasions as a junior, including a career-high 44 points against North Texas on November 29, 2020, marking the most by a Texas player since 1994.[16] Collier had a breakout sophomore season in 2019–20, earning First-Team All-Big 12 Conference accolades. She started all 30 games at the center position for the Longhorns, playing 29.8 minutes per game. Collier was tied for the team lead in scoring (13.1 points per game) and led the Longhorns in rebounding (10.5 rebounds per game). She ranked 20th nationally in rebounds per game (10.5) and 23rd in total rebounds (314).
Collier was one of only six players in the Big 12 Conference that season to average a double-double on the year.[17] She ranked 16th nationally in double-doubles with 16 and she was one of only four players in program history to average a points-rebounds double-double for a single season.[18]
Collier was one of five finalists for the 2021 Lisa Leslie Award, which recognizes the top center in women's college basketball.[19] She was also a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy[20] and was one of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award.[21]
Professional career
Collier was selected by the Dallas Wings as the first overall pick in the 2021 WNBA draft.[22][23] The Wings had both the first and second overall picks that year after a trade with the New York Liberty; Dallas selected Awak Kuier immediately after Collier. Collier played in 28 out of 32 games for the Wings in her rookie season, starting 18 of them. Collier averaged 3.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game; the Wings finished 14-18 and did not make the playoffs. She was named to the 2021 WNBA Rookie team after the conclusion of the season.[24]
In her second season, Collier's production significantly dropped, as she played only 17 games exclusively off the bench, and averaged only 2.0 points and 0.6 rebounds per game. She was waived by the Wings in May 2023 along with 2019 first-round pick Kalani Brown.[25][26][27]
After being released by the Wings, Collier played for professional teams in Italy, Israel, Poland, and China between 2021 and 2023. In September 2024, she signed with the UC Capitals of the WNBL in Australia.[28]
National team career
Collier was a member of the United States U-17 Women's National Team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 World Championships.[29] She also participated in the 2017 USA U19 World Cup Team Trials and the 2015 USA U16 National Team Trials. She also represented the United States in the inaugural FIBA 3x3 Women's Series in the summer of 2019.
Collier is the daughter of Ponda and the late Elliott Collier. She has a brother, Casey, who plays football for the University of Southern California.[31] Her mother played basketball at Southwestern University and her father played basketball at Eastern Montana College.
Collier is interested in pursuing a career in sports broadcasting following her playing career. Collier has hosted her own online show in preparation for her future career, and has interviewed high-profile guests like Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns.[32]
Growing up, Collier's family was friends with Retha Swindell,[33] the University of Texas' all-time career rebounds leader and the first African-American woman to play basketball for the Longhorns. Collier interviewed Swindell for Longhorn Network during the 2020 season to discuss their common bond.[34]
Related Research Articles
Tina Marie Thompson is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Most recently, she served as the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team from 2018 to 2022. Thompson was inducted into both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Alicia Rachelle Thompson is a former WNBA basketball player for the Seattle Storm. She was raised in Big Lake, Texas and attended high school at Reagan County High School where she excelled in basketball, shot put and discus throw. She was recruited by Texas Tech while still in high school and became Tech's 2nd all-time leading rebounder and scorer, scoring 2,156 points throughout her college career. Also excelling in track and proficiency in the discus throw, Thompson was voted Kodak All-American in her senior year and went on to be voted as the Big Twelve Player of the Year. Thompson honed her basketball skills as a Lady Raider and was drafted by New York Liberty in the 1st round, as 9th overall pick. Her determination and tenacity propelled her to achieve an outstanding career in basketball. During her six-year career in the WNBA, she also played for the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm. While starting for the Indiana Fever, Thompson scored a single game high of 22 points and collecting 15 rebounds. During her time playing for the Seattle Storm Thompson had the best season of her career, averaging 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and shooting 51.4% from the field, Thompson ranks in the WNBA's top five. While playing for the Seattle Storm in 2004, the team defeated the Connecticut Sun winning them the first Championship in 25 years highlighting her career as a professional basketball player. Since retiring from the WNBA Thompson has played professional basketball in Spain, Italy, Israel, and Turkey.
Karen Sue Aston is an American basketball player and coach. She is currently the head coach of the UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team. She has served as the head women's basketball coach at Texas, Charlotte and North Texas. Aston has a career record of 323–203 (.614). In her first 13 seasons as a head coach, Aston's teams have averaged 22 wins per year and have made a combined ten postseason appearances.
Tiffany Jackson-Jones was an American basketball player and coach. She played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns, earning All-American honors. Jackson played professionally in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the New York Liberty, Tulsa Shock, and Los Angeles Sparks. She also played in the Israeli Premier League for Maccabi Ashdod. She later returned to Texas as an assistant coach for the Longhorns.
Kayla Danielle Pedersen is an American basketball forward who is currently a free agent. She was selected 7th overall in the 2011 WNBA draft. She was selected for the 2006 State Farm Holiday Classic all-tournament as a senior at Red Mountain High School in Arizona. After attending high school she went to Stanford University, where she had a highly successful career. She has a brother who is younger "Kyle Pedersen" who is a successful Science teacher at Gilbert HighSchool.
Odyssey Celeste Sims is an American professional basketball player for Henan Phoenix of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). An AP and WBCA All-American, Sims was born in Irving, Texas and graduated from MacArthur High School.
Moriah Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted second overall by the San Antonio Stars in the 2016 WNBA draft. Jefferson played point guard for UConn women's basketball team, where she won four consecutive national championships. She finished her UConn career ranked first in assists, second in steals, and as a two-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top point guard in the nation. On May 16, 2019, Jefferson was traded to the Dallas Wings.
Alyssa Thomas is an American professional basketball forward for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins. The New York Liberty drafted Thomas 4th overall in the 2014 WNBA draft, and immediately traded her to the Sun along with Kelsey Bone and a 2015 first-round draft pick in exchange for Tina Charles. Thomas is the University of Maryland's all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles for both the women's and men's programs, and one of nine athletes in NCAAW history with six career triple-doubles. In the WNBA, Thomas recorded fifteen career triple-doubles. She is one of four players to record 15+, 15+, 10+ with 0 turnovers, the only WNBA player to do so ever.
Katie Lou Samuelson is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the UConn Huskies. Samuelson is also the director of player development for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball program.
Imani Trishawn McGee-Stafford is an American professional basketball player. She played college basketball for University of Texas at Austin.
Aerial Powers is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Kayseri Basketbol of the Turkish Super League. She played college basketball at Michigan State University. After a successful college career with the Spartans, Powers was drafted by the Dallas Wings with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft.
Osaretin Evelyn Akhator is a Nigerian professional women's basketball forward/center for Flammes Carolo. She was drafted by the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft.
Azurá Breeona Stevens is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Stevens played college basketball at Duke and UConn. She was drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings.
Park Ji-hyun is a South Korean basketball player for the South Korean national team and Asan Woori Bank Wibee of the Women’s Korean Basketball League (WKBL).
Isatou "Satou" Sabally is a German-American professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected second overall by the Wings in the 2020 WNBA draft. She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks.
Erica Erinma Ogwumike is a Nigerian American basketball player. She played college basketball for the Rice Owls.
Joyner Michelle Holmes is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She has played for the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. She played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns.
Jaylyn Agnew is an American former professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Creighton Bluejays. She played college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays.
Ashley Rose Joens is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. She played her college basketball at Iowa State Cyclones of the Big 12 Conference. She plays both the small forward and shooting guard positions. Joens had been considered one of the top prospects in the 2022 WNBA draft, but chose not to enter the draft and returned for a fifth season in 2022–23.
Shaylee Gonzales is an American professional basketball player for Dinamo Basket Sassari of the Lega Basket Femminile. She played college basketball for the BYU Cougars and Texas Longhorns.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
