During Wednesday’s scrimmage with the Chinese national team, Lynx rookie Napheesa Collier had a little battle with one of her opponents. It wasn’t anything major — just a couple of elbows traded between competitors — but it caught the eye of veteran teammate Seimone Augustus.

“I was joking with Napheesa before I came in here,” Augustus said Thursday during the Lynx’s media day. “I was like, ‘OK, I haven’t seen that from Pheesa in practices.’ I just wanted to know that she had it in her to not back down.”

There will be plenty get-to-know-you moments this year for the Lynx, who have significantly remade their roster after almost a decade with a very similar core. Collier is far from the only new piece, but as the No. 6 overall pick out of UConn she figures to be among the biggest young contributors on this year’s team.

By Michael Rand

Star Tribune