For Nia Coffey, the whole lot has come full circle. Born within the Twin Cities, the tenth 12 months ahead starred at close by Hopkins Excessive College earlier than making the journey to Northwestern for her collegiate profession. A historic collegiate profession adopted, which included 4 consecutive All-Huge Ten choices. Drafted fifth general within the 2017 WNBA Draft, one would suppose that she was destined for stardom.
Issues did not come so rapidly, although.
Coffey began simply 11 video games in her first two seasons with San Antonio and Las Vegas because the group was making the relocation to Sin Metropolis. She then made stops in Atlanta and Phoenix earlier than finally being waived by the Mercury in 2021. She was instantly picked up by the Sparks after which launched into a 4 12 months tenure in Atlanta. This low season, Coffey opted to return dwelling and it has resulted in a profession 12 months for the league greatest Lynx.
That play carried over within the Lynx‘ 107-74 win towards Portland within the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.
„Nia set the tone. We gave her the sport ball for the best way that she set the tone defensively, rebounding, hitting open threes, making easy performs, seven deflections,“ Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned of Coffey’s ridiculous 15-point (three 3-pointers), 5-rebound, 4-assist, 3-steal, 3- block efficiency. „She’s the seventh participant in franchise historical past with a 5×3 in factors, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. She was actually good.“
Coffey’s Total Impression
The seventh participant in franchise historical past with a „5X3“ sport, the impression that Coffey brings to the hardwood extends far past the field rating. She gives defensive versatility along with her capacity to modify and include nearly any place. Apart from the three steals and three blocks that she was credited for vs. Portland, she had seven deflections. Her mixture of size, agility, and defensive IQ as a veteran has made her an early season entrance runner for WNBA All-Defensive group.
Regardless of having her greatest all-around efficiency of the 12 months, Coffey rapidly reminded everybody that this was concerning the group, not her.
„It feels good, however what felt higher was how we have been enjoying as a group. Everybody was a risk,“ she humbly mentioned within the post-game press convention. „We have been getting stops defensively, scoring offensively, in transition, and within the half courtroom. We have been simply in a very good circulate.“
The league-best Lynx have been certainly in a very good circulate after a slender loss to the Aces over the weekend in Commissioner’s Cup play. Whereas reaching the ‚chip remains to be a risk, there are quite a lot of dominoes that should fall to ensure that that to occur. A lot of that, nevertheless, begins with Coffey’s versatility on each ends of the ground, as her Lynx boss echoed.
„I feel what I respect about her, in all probability as a result of I don’t get it from the remainder of the starters, is she actually listens and he or she actually appears at you, lifeless in your eye and receives the data and goes on the market and does precisely what you are asking her to do,“ Reeve mentioned with fun. „Her degree of competitiveness, willingness to play vertically, shot blocking, rebounding…it simply units the tone for us.“
nah, lol. 🙅♀️ pic.twitter.com/IWsVXLWsJg
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) June 16, 2026
Coffey’s Dream State of affairs
The hometown child’s capacity to play a number of positions, area the ground along with her capacity to shoot the three (capturing 43.9% from three on 4 makes an attempt per sport) and Coffey’s versatility on each ends make her a coach’s dream.
It is also a dream scenario for Coffey herself.
The son of former Timberwolves ahead Richard Coffey and sister of present Suns‘ guard Amir Coffey has been a fixture in the neighborhood as nicely. She met with followers final week at a Hy-Vee grocery retailer and the infectious power that she brings radiates each on and off the ground.
All in all, it does not seem to be a greater determination might have been made along with her free company determination to return dwelling.
„I do know that is form of bizarre to remain, however I at all times liked how the Lynx performed…nevertheless it was form of bizarre as a result of I used to be at all times on one other group,“ Coffey admitted of her admiration of the Lynx. „I am glad that it was a risk for me to be on this group. I really like the teaching employees and our gamers. I am glad that it labored out.“
She wrapped with sturdy phrases for her Corridor of Fame coach’s basketball thoughts, telling the dozen or so media in attendance „She’s [Reeve] a terrific coach and I’ve at all times recognized that from afar, however attending to see that first hand is admittedly cool. I am nonetheless studying lots. That is my tenth 12 months and I am nonetheless studying lots from her. I am joyful I could be on the receiving finish. „
