Nia Coffey Bio
Nia Coffey (born June 11, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A small forward listed at 6 feet 1 inch, she was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft, the highest selection ever for a Northwestern Wildcats basketball player. Over the course of her professional career, Coffey has played in the WNBA, in Israel, Australia, France, Turkey, and Poland, and she also represented the United States in international competition.
Beyond her play on the court, Coffey is part of a notable basketball family. She is the daughter of former NBA player Richard Coffey and the sister of current NBA player Amir Coffey. Her path from a McDonald’s All-American at Hopkins High School to a multi-league professional has made her one of the more traveled American forwards of her generation.
Early Life and Background
Nia Coffey was born on June 11, 1995, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She grew up in a basketball household, the daughter of Richard Coffey, a former NBA player, which gave her early and constant exposure to the professional game. The family ties to the sport shaped her training and competitive mindset from a young age, and her younger brother, Amir Coffey, would go on to play in the NBA as well.
Coffey attended Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where she developed into one of the top high school prospects in the country. Her senior-year play earned her a spot on the prestigious McDonald’s All-American roster in 2013, a recognition reserved for the most highly regarded high school players in the United States. By the time she graduated, she had established herself as a versatile forward with the skill set and physical tools to compete at the next level.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of high school as a McDonald’s All-American, Coffey was a priority recruit for college programs across the country. She chose Northwestern University, where she stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman power forward and immediately made an impact. On November 5, 2013, she recorded 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in her collegiate debut, a 98–57 win over Lewis University. By the end of that first season, she had become the first player in Northwestern history to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman.
Over the next three seasons, Coffey continued to raise her profile in the Big Ten. On January 29, 2015, she posted a career-high 35 points in a 102–99 loss to Iowa. As a junior, she set the Northwestern women’s basketball single-season rebounds record with 344, a mark she held until the following year. As a senior, she broke multiple Northwestern career records, including most consecutive games scoring in double figures, total rebounds, free throws made, free throw attempts, and field goal attempts. She left Northwestern as the first player in program history to make the All-Big Ten First Team, Coaches’ version, in all four of her playing seasons.
Nia Coffey Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Coffey was selected by the San Antonio Stars with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft, the highest selection of any Northwestern basketball player in school history. She made her WNBA debut on May 13, 2017, in the season-opener against the New York Liberty. That first season allowed her to adjust to the pace and physicality of the professional game while contributing as a rotation forward.
During the 2017–18 WNBA offseason, Coffey also began her overseas career, joining Maccabi Ramat Gan of the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League. The experience of competing in a second league during the same year helped her broaden her game and gain valuable minutes. In 2018, the Stars franchise relocated and became the Las Vegas Aces, and on May 27, 2018, Coffey scored a career-high 23 points in a 98–103 loss to the Seattle Storm.
WNBA Breakthrough (2018–2020)
On April 11, 2019, Coffey was traded to the Atlanta Dream in a three-team deal that sent Sugar Rodgers to the Aces, marking the start of a new chapter for the young forward. The 2019 WNBA season was followed by another overseas stretch, including time with Çukurova Basketbol of the Women’s Basketball Super League in Turkey. These opportunities allowed her to keep refining her offensive game against varied styles of play.
On February 19, 2020, Coffey was traded to the Phoenix Mercury as part of a three-team deal. With the Mercury, she continued to log minutes as a versatile forward capable of defending multiple positions. The 2020 season in the WNBA bubble further highlighted her willingness to do the dirty work on the glass and defend at a high level.
Los Angeles Sparks Era (2021)
On February 10, 2021, Coffey was waived by the Mercury, but she did not stay on the open market for long. On March 4, 2021, she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she found a clearer role. On June 1, 2021, she recorded a career-high 6 blocks in a game against the Dallas Wings, showcasing her shot-blocking instincts and length on the perimeter.
That season with the Sparks was arguably her most productive in the WNBA, as she set a new career high with 8.3 points per game and also played a career-high number of minutes. Her two-way play, including rebounding, rim protection, and outside shooting, made her one of the more reliable role players in the league that year.
Atlanta Dream Era (2022–2025)
On February 1, 2022, Coffey signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Dream, beginning a multi-year stay with the franchise. She re-signed with the Dream on a second one-year deal on February 1, 2023, and then signed a two-year contract on February 1, 2024. Her consistent production and veteran presence made her a steady contributor in Atlanta’s rotation.
During the 2022–23 WNBA offseason, Coffey joined Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball in France, adding another elite European league to her resume. In January 2025, she signed with the Townsville Fire of Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) for another overseas campaign.
Minnesota Lynx Era (2026–Present)
On April 12, 2026, Coffey signed with the Minnesota Lynx for the 2026 WNBA season, returning to the league where she originally built her reputation in the Midwest. The move brought her back closer to her home state of Minnesota, where her basketball journey began at Hopkins High School and at Northwestern. Her veteran experience and defensive versatility figure to be assets for the Lynx roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Note: This section is not applicable to a basketball player profile and has been omitted.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Coffey’s signature achievements are her fifth-overall selection in the 2017 WNBA draft, her 2013 McDonald’s All-American recognition, and her status as a four-time first-team All-Big Ten selection at Northwestern. She also set the Northwestern single-season rebounds record with 344 and posted career highs of 35 points in college and 23 points in the WNBA. Representing the United States at the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship, where she set a Team USA record for most free throws without a miss in the U19 tournament with 11, remains one of her most prestigious honors.
Nia Coffey Career Wins
Nia Coffey’s professional career is defined more by longevity, versatility, and consistent contribution than by major individual awards. Across multiple WNBA franchises and overseas leagues, she has earned a reputation as a dependable forward who can defend, rebound, and space the floor. While championship totals and individual trophies are limited in the verified record, her sustained presence on rosters in the WNBA, Israel, Australia, France, Turkey, and Poland speaks to her value as a professional.
WNBA Highlights
Drafted fifth overall in 2017, Coffey debuted for the San Antonio Stars on May 13, 2017, and went on to play for the Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Phoenix Mercury, Los Angeles Sparks, and later returned to the Dream for multiple seasons. Her most productive WNBA campaign came with the Sparks in 2021, when she set career highs with 8.3 points per game and a personal best in minutes played, along with 6 blocks against the Dallas Wings on June 1, 2021. She also scored a WNBA career-high 23 points against the Seattle Storm on May 27, 2018.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the WNBA, Coffey has built a steady international resume, including stints with Maccabi Ramat Gan and Maccabi Haifa in Israel, the Adelaide Lightning and Townsville Fire in Australia’s WNBL, Çukurova Basketbol in Turkey, Arka Gdynia in Poland, and Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes in France. At the international level, she represented the United States at the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Lithuania, where she set a Team USA record for most free throws without a miss in the U19 tournament with 11.
Nia Coffey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Note: This section is not applicable to a basketball player profile and has been omitted. Family background is covered in the Personal Life section below.
Personal Life
Nia Coffey is the daughter of Richard Coffey, a former NBA player, and the sister of Amir Coffey, a current NBA player. Growing up in a basketball-oriented family gave her direct insight into the demands and lifestyle of professional basketball from an early age. She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and has continued to build her career between the United States and overseas leagues. Public details about her marital status and children have not been verified.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 WNBA season saw Coffey continuing her tenure with the Atlanta Dream, where she had signed a two-year contract on February 1, 2024, that ran through the 2025 campaign. Her role within the rotation remained that of a versatile forward, contributing defense, rebounding, and perimeter shooting off the bench. The Dream leaned on her experience as a multi-year veteran to stabilize rotations during a competitive season.
In January 2025, Coffey also signed with the Townsville Fire of Australia’s WNBL, giving her another high-level overseas opportunity during the WNBA offseason. Balancing the WNBA calendar with another demanding league has become a hallmark of her career, and 2025 was no exception. Her ability to log minutes across two continents in the same year reinforced her reputation as one of the more well-traveled American forwards in the game.
Looking ahead, Coffey’s move to the Minnesota Lynx, announced on April 12, 2026, signals the start of a new chapter closer to her home state. Her familiarity with the Big Ten region and her consistent two-way play position her as a useful veteran addition for the Lynx roster as they look to remain contenders in the WNBA.
