After Securing Deal With Michael Jordan’s Brand, WNBA Star Admits Her Only Wish for Bulls Legend

Napheesa Collier has officially switched sides—and no, it’s not about teams. The Minnesota Lynx star just walked away from her five-year run with Nike to join none other than Michael Jordan’s brand. That’s right, the four-time WNBA All-Star, who’s long been seen rocking exclusive Nike Kobes and KDs, is now repping the Jumpman. It’s a big move, especially for someone who’s always been in the spotlight, and it feels like Collier’s just getting started.

Collier made it clear that this wasn’t just about the logo on her sneakers—it was about the energy behind it. “Jordan has [its] own identity, [its] own athletes and does things a different way,” she shared in a video interview. “There’s a big separation.” And she’s not wrong. Jordan Brand has been doubling down on women’s hoops lately. In fact, Jumpman logos were front and center on uniforms at the last two WNBA All-Star Games, showing just how serious they are about backing the women’s game.

Then came the perfect time to show she’s worth every bit of that investment. In a nail-biting showdown, the Lynx pulled off a wild 76-70 comeback win against the Connecticut Sun. And guess who led the charge? Collier, of course. She dropped 33 points, snatched 11 rebounds, and helped fuel a massive 23-2 run in the final stretch. It was Natisha Hiedeman’s three-pointer that finally pushed the Lynx ahead, but it was Collier’s dominance that made the rally possible.

After the game, during her post-match interview, things took a fun turn. The new Jordan Brand deal came up—but so did MJ himself, now an analyst. When asked what she thought Michael would say if he were watching, Collier smiled and said, “Well, I just signed, so I hope he’d be proud.”

via Imago

Finally, Collier opened up about how deep that connection to Jordan really runs. “I think my footwork, you know I model a lot of my game after MJ and Kobe because of their footwork, I just admire it so much and so I hope he’d be proud of that,” she said. But do you know, it was MJ himself who convinced her to make the jump to Jumpman.

Michael Jordan gave “meaningful” pitch to Napheesa Collier

Back in February, while Napheesa Collier was in Miami for Unrivaled’s inaugural season, Michael Jordan made a surprise in-person pitch that left a lasting impression. According to SportsRush, MJ didn’t just talk shop—he pointed to UConn and Lynx legend Maya Moore, the first woman to ever sign with Jordan Brand, and painted a bigger picture of how the brand could help elevate Collier’s presence both on and off the court.

Moreover, it wasn’t just about sneakers or contracts. In fact, Collier shared that Jordan’s words went beyond product and paychecks. “It’s his brand but he doesn’t need to be on the ground doing these things,” she said. “So, for him to come to the meeting and do that was really meaningful. It was awesome.” And that, right there, was the turning point. MJ showed up not just as a businessman, but as someone truly invested in women’s basketball.

Following that heartfelt meeting, Collier took her time, turning down other offers before eventually locking in her deal with Jordan Brand last month. And once she did, she circled back for another chat with MJ. Now, she’s thrilled to be on the same roster as Maya Moore, who retired in 2023. She also joins an elite group of 12 WNBA stars under the brand—including Rhyne Howard and Dana Evans. Meanwhile, Satou Sabally made a move in the opposite direction, leaving Jordan Brand for Adidas.

Lastly, don’t expect this to be a short-term gig. “This is a partnership that I want to have for the rest of my career,” Collier stated. When asked about a potential signature shoe, she kept it coy. “You’ll have to stay tuned,” she said.