"Worst insult you can give a person": Fans react as Napheesa Collier's 'nice-nasty couthful' Sophie Cunningham shade goes viral

Napheesa Collier recalled the lengthy history she shares with Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, saying that she has been playing against her since the eighth grade. Speaking on the “Bird’s Eye View” podcast, Collier and Sue Bird were reminiscing about their early memories of basketball.

Bird noted that Collier had lost the national championship game against Sophie Cunningham. After the Lynx star touched on her lengthy history with the Fever star, the host asked Collier to describe how she has changed over the years.

While answering, the Unrivaled MVP said the Fever star hasn't changed:

“She’s the exact same,” Collier said on Friday.

Fans took note of Collier’s answer and reacted on X, accusing the Lynx star of being “nice-nasty.”

Some fans also criticized Napheesa Collier, saying she sounded like she was holding onto a grudge:

While Collier and Cunningham came up at the same time, playing against each other, their career trajectories have been different. Collier has been regarded as one of the best players in the league, making three All-WNBA teams since being drafted in 2019.

Cunningham, who was drafted in the second round that same year, has played more of a secondary role during her time in the WNBA.

Napheesa Collier is excited to plan Unrivaled Season 2

Continuing their conversation, Collier also touched on her plans for the second season of the Unrivaled League, saying that it will be even bigger than their inaugural season.

“We had success in year one, and we have even bigger plans for year two,” Collier said. "Like your voice really matters, your opinion, the ideas that you have. So planning for year two has been awesome. Just all of our hopes and dreams, and all of our what-ifs.”

The Unrivaled League has been a significant success for co-founders Collier and Breanna Stewart. The league has secured a media rights deal with TNT Sports and has plenty of backing from NBA stars, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry.

Napheesa Collier and Stewart's initiative has gained momentum and could benefit not just them but women's basketball as a whole. Season 2 should prove to be an actual test for them.

About the author

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a diverse range of topics. He is currently pursuing a BSc degree from BITS, but his love for video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism career. He relies on diligent research and fact-checking to deliver top-notch content. He has previously worked in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey began with Rockstar Games’ GTA franchise, specifically
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He strongly prefers multiplayer games, with FPS being his favorite genre, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! However, he also dabbles in open-world, story-based games from time to time. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West hold a soft spot in his heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type scenario.

Sameer makes sure to follow Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a game being played at the highest level can be highly educational. He derives inspiration from Tarik's meteoric rise to become one of the biggest FPS streamers in the world following the release of Valorant.

Outside of work, you can find Sameer playing football or cheering for FC Barcelona. He also likes to read and write poetry.

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Edited by Sameer Khan