"Studmum": WNBA fans react as Napheesa Collier endorses Courtney Wiliams and Natisha Hiedeman's StudBudz stream with giant chain

With Napheesa Collier out, several Minnesota Lynx players have grabbed attention, especially the “StudBudz” pairing of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman. But in Thursday’s 75-73 loss to the Atlanta Dream, the MVP frontrunner still became the topic of conversation despite not suiting up.

On the bench, Collier sported a flashy, oversized “StudBudz” chain, silver with colorful lettering spelling out the nickname.

WNBA fans got a kick out of the accessory, with one giving her a playful new nickname:

“StudMum lol.”

“When they said she was wearing a studbudz chain i didnt think it would be THAT big 😭,” another fan commented.

“Lmaooo.. she must have lost a bet,” another said.

Here are other reactions:

In Napheesa Collier's absence, the Stud Budz has carried the Lynx. Courtney Williams has posted 14.6 points, 5.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game across nine contests without the MVP candidate, while Natisha Hiedeman has averaged 7.1 points, 2.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds.

Against the Dream, though, both struggled, combining for just 10 points on 20 shots with seven turnovers.

Napheesa Collier explains her StudBudz bling

In a post on X, Napheesa Collier cleared up the chain’s backstory in a post on X, revealing it came from her teammate.

“Saw Courtney had this sitting in a box before the game. Ofc I had to wear,” she tweeted.

Her injury happened during the Lynx’s historic 53-point blowout of the Las Vegas Aces, when she went down late in the third quarter with Minnesota already leading by 43.

Before Thursday’s matchup against Atlanta, she had been upgraded to questionable, an encouraging sign she’s nearing her return.

Even while sidelined, Collier remains the MVP betting favorite at -400 via Caesars Sportsbook, with A’ja Wilson at +405 and Alyssa Thomas at +475.

She’s averaging a league-best 23.9 points, along with 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks on an elite 53.7% shooting, including 36.8% from deep.

Though the Lynx have proven they can win without her, Collier’s presence will be key for a playoff push. Minnesota, the first team to clinch a postseason berth, owns a league-best 28-7 record and faces the fifth-easiest remaining schedule per Tankathon.

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

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Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro