It'll be a tough choice for the league voters to choose ROY. The award typically goes to #1 picks that lead the league in scoring. So the voter will have to choose whether they want to give the award to the player that scores a lot of points for a bad team, whose point totals will drop drastically once that team has acquired better players, becomes a contender and the offense doesn't revolve around her. A player who plays questionable defense, doesn't really make other players better around her, and needs a lot of shots in order to get her point totals. Or the voters could choose a great team player that makes everyone around her better, that doesn't need the ball in order to help her team win, who has done something in her rookie year that only 3 other players have ever done, makes life difficult on offense for the opposing team, and has the potential to be the face of the new WNBA for years to come. A forward that is also more likely to make the Olympic team. The ball is in your court voters.
I wonder if Catchings, Moore or Swoops achieved those numbers during their rookie season? The only way one can put up those stats is to “play”. Collier started all 34 regular season games, and their one playoff game. She averaged 34 minutes a game.
Most rookies don’t get the opportunity to do that. Her skill set and maturity were so “blatant”, it demanded that HC Cheryl Reeve put her in the starting lineup, and keep her on the floor. It didn’t take Pheesa long to gain the trust of her teammates. Another HUGE factor in her success this year was that she was able to avoid injury, and answered the whistle for all 35 tip balls to begin the game.
As Geno said “this (her rookie year) is the worst she will ever play in this league.” I expect her numbers and confidence to increase next year.
She was paid rookie wages this season in the W. Being the the AP ROY, a member of the all-star team, a starter and proved her durability by playing in every game, will make her uber attractive and sought after by many foreign league teams that are more than willing to pay handsomely for her services. A poster here recently commented that many foreign teams want WNBA players.
She’ll be well compensated for services rendered wherever she goes this off season. No doubt an endorsement deal or two are on the horizon as well. Who wouldn’t want Collier endorsing their product or business?
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