Napheesa Collier made an immediate impact in the WNBA, winning Rookie of the Year in 2019 before helping Team USA capture Olympic gold in 2020. Since then, the Minnesota Lynx star has continued to build an impressive résumé, establishing herself as one of the league’s key players. Through much of that journey, Collier has had her husband, Alex Bazzell, by her side. From their relationship to his career and background, here’s everything you need to know about the man behind the WNBA star.

Who is Napheesa Collier’s husband, Alex Bazzell?

Alex Bazzell and Napheesa Collier go way back. They met when she was a high school senior. When she went to the University of Connecticut, he became her coach during her freshman year.

Bazzell remains a huge part of her basketball journey since the two got engaged in 2019. This was also the year Collier went pro, joining the Minnesota Lynx.

What does Alex Bazzell do for a living?

Alex Bazzell is a WNBA and NBA skills coach. He has worked with various stars in the leagues, including Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, Candace Parker, and Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Gigi Bryant.

He’s also obviously trained his wife, Napheesa Collier. However, his profession expands far beyond just training players. Bazzell is also the league president of Unrivaled Basketball, a league founded by Collier and fellow WNBA star Breanna Stewart in 2023.

Additionally, Bazzell is the co-founder of Through The Lens, a subscription-based video service that serves as an educational tool for basketball players.

When did Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell get married?

Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell got engaged in October 2019. However, they got married years later on October 7, 2022, in St. Louis. The two had been dating for quite some time by the time they got engaged.

After first crossing paths when Collier was in high school, the two reunited at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Collier had joined the women’s basketball team, the Huskies, where Bazzell just happened to be her trainer.

The pair began dating two years into her college career in 2017. At that point, Collier was in her junior year, and her career progression was already fascinating. In 2019, Bazzell asked her to finally marry him, and they got engaged.

Do Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell have children?

Yes, Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell have a daughter. The couple welcomed their daughter on May 25, 2022, and she was named Mila Sarah Bazzell. “Mila Sarah Bazzell made her way into the world 52522 we are so in love,” the couple had captioned an Instagram post announcing her birth.

“My husband takes a huge load of the parenting during the season just because I’m gone so much,” Collier continued. “I’m just so lucky to have a partner who supports me in this way,” Collier told US Magazine in a 2024 exclusive interview. “It’s not easy juggling this. He also has a full-time job.” As of 2026, Mila Sarah Bazzell is already four years old.

How do Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell balance their careers and family?

Napheesa Collier and her husband, Alex Bazzell, support one another thoroughly when it comes down to parenting. In a conversation with Mitchell Hansen on the Hitting the Hardwood Podcast, Bazzell opened up about the struggles Collier faced when returning to the game after becoming a mother.

“Because when she came back, initially, she was probably, she was trying to do too much, too early, and then you had to shut her down for, you know, two or three weeks, to get her back to neutral. So that was probably the biggest challenge.”

He explained that they communicated with the team’s head coach to help her adjust to her physical state better after giving birth. Collier has also given due credit to her husband, as mentioned earlier.

Additionally, Collier’s father, Gamal Collier, also helped in the initial days by taking care of their daughter. He moved to the couple’s building and would look after Mila Sarah Bazzell when Collier had games.

How do Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell work together in Basketball?

Alex Bazzell has worked with Napheesa Collier as her trainer since her UConn days, playing a role in her development long before she became a WNBA star. While Collier also trains under Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, Bazzell continues to be involved in her basketball training.

The couple’s involvement in basketball extends beyond Collier’s playing career, too. Collier and Breanna Stewart co-founded Unrivaled, the women’s 3-on-3 basketball league, while Bazzell serves as the league’s president. Through the league, the couple has combined their experience and passion for the sport, building a basketball venture together while remaining closely connected professionally.