Napheesa Collier, an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx, is married to Alex Bazzell, and they have a daughter, Mila Sarah Bazzell.
Alex is a basketball skill coach, and she often brings Mila to basketball games and practices.
Highlights
- Napheesa and Alex Bazzell were married on October 7, 2022, in St. Louis, five months after Mila’s birth.
- She balances motherhood and elite athletics, often bringing Mila to Lynx games and practices.
- After the 2024 Olympics, Mila became inseparable from Sabrina Ionescu, calling her “Auntie Sab.”
Napheesa exited her winning game over the Las Vegas Aces due to a back injury at the Commissioner’s Cup Victory on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Before exiting, she had recorded seven points and six rebounds in 19 minutes. The Minnesota Lynx stands atop the NBA, and they will face the Indiana Fever in the Commissioner’s Cup final on July 1.
The Lynx drafted her as the 6th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft, and she was asked to play small forward, then power forward, and later, small forward.
After Tamika Catchings, she is the second rookie in WNBA history to record 400 points, 200 rebounds, and 60 steals.
She was voted to the 2019 WNBA All-Rookie Team and made an All-Star as an injury replacement for A’ja Wilson.
Napheesa was named to the Minnesota Lynx All-25 Team for the team’s 25th anniversary. She helped her team win the 024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship on June 25, 2024.
It’s such an honor to be named this year’s Rookie of the Year. So many great players have won this award in the past and I’m excited to join that list. I’ve been lucky to be put in such a great situation here in Minnesota and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Napheesa Collier
Napheesa Collier Balances Her Basketball Career And Motherhood
WNBA star Napheesa Collier and her husband, Alex Bazzell, welcomed their daughter, Mila Sarah Bazzell, on May 25, 2022.
She is a proud mother who often carries her daughter to her practices and games. Likewise, her social media is filled with glimpses of her personal life.
Napheesa is having the best year of her professional career, but she admits that balancing motherhood and basketball hasn’t been easy.
In an exclusive interview ahead of Game 3 of the Finals, she opened up about the challenges of juggling parenthood and elite athletics.
She credited her strong support system for making it possible.
I’m just really lucky to have such a great family and support system. My dad has been with us the past two seasons in Minnesota. He has an apartment in our building. My daughter stays with him the night before games so I can get a good rest.
Napheesa Collier
Napheesa and Alex married on October 7, 2022, in St. Louis, five months after Mila’s birth. They relied on teamwork to manage their busy lives.
My husband takes a huge load of the parenting during the season just because I’m gone so much. I’m just so lucky to have a partner who supports me in this way. It’s not easy juggling this. He also has a full-time job.
Napheesa Collier
Alex serves as president of Unrivaled Basketball, the new 3-on-3 women’s league co-founded by Napheesa and New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart.
Beyond basketball and parenting, Collier is also a vocal advocate for reproductive rights, which led to her partnership with Opill.
Napheesa Collier’s Daughter Mila And Sabrina Are Inseparable
The bond between Napheesa Collier and Sabrina Ionescu goes far beyond the basketball court. It extends to their families, including Collier’s adorable daughter, Mila.
The two players, who teamed up for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, have formed a close friendship, and Mila has become one of Ionescu’s biggest fans.
Sabrina Ionescu and her husband have a sweet moment with Napheesa Collier’s daughter after game 4. 🤗#WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/gAGvWmWtln
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) October 19, 2024
After the Minnesota Lynx’s Game 4 victory in the WNBA Finals, forcing a decisive Game 5 against the New York Liberty, a heartwarming moment unfolded between Sabrina, her husband Hroniss Grasu, and little Mila.
Napheesa’s husband, Alex Bazzell, later shared another touching photo on social media, revealing just how deep the connection runs.
It proved that Mila and Sabrina have become inseparable.
Ever since the Olympics, she is always asking where Sab is.
Alex Bazzell
The friendship between Napheesa and Sabrina continues to bring joy not just to fans but also to their families.
Their bond will last far beyond basketball, with Mila always looking for her favorite aunt, Sab.
Additional Information
- Napheesa Collier, the daughter of Sarah and Gamal Collier, was born on September 23, 1996, in Jefferson City, Missouri.
- Her father taught her the importance of self-sufficiency, responsibility, and upholding the family name.
- Her younger brother, Kai, played football at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.
- She is the vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association executive committee.
