When Napheesa Collier first showed an interest in basketball, her parents tried to get her onto the only Amateur Athletic Union team in Jefferson City. The team declined without even a tryout. “It was just a, No, we’re full. Sorry ’bout it,” she said of the call. “Where I’m from in Missouri, it’s a pretty small town. So there weren’t a lot of options when it came to finding competitive teams to play on.” Standing in the face of rejection, Gamal and Sarah Collier just couldn’t let their daughter’s morale shatter. So they started an AAU team of their own. Napheesa ‘Lady Warrior’ would soon begin to compete at national AAU tournaments and make a name for themselves. Her parents didn’t just provide Phee their support; they were literally her pillar.

“Looking back on that time, it really amazes me how much love and belief my parents must have had in me to do all of that,” said a grateful Napheesa. “Through basketball, they gave me something that made me feel powerful and in control.” Starting her own league this year, Collier has a habit of playing on teams where she decides the name on the front. And as we revel in the revolution she’s brought to women’s basketball, don’t forget where it all started.