Alex Rodriguez appreciates a business-minded athlete.
The Yankees great — who made the jump from MLB superstar to CEO of A-Rod Corp., and now co-owner of the NBA’s Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Lynx — heaped praise on Lynx veteran Napheesa Collier for building a business empire while in the prime of her career.
“Napheesa is an incredible example and role model for other athletes, both men and women, that you can take something in sports and not take your eye off the ball, but yet build something really equally as special on the business side,” Rodgriguez told The Post while speaking on behalf of his partnership with Lysol. “So, hats off to her.”
Collier, a five-time WNBA All-Star and 2024 Euroleague Champion, and the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart founded Unrivaled, which is a 3v3 professional women’s basketball league that plays in Miami during the WNBA offseason — offering the highest average salaries in women’s sports history, equity in the league, top-tier amenities, housing and childcare.
Collier, who is averaging 23.5 points and 7.7 assists, is in the conversation for MVP after being a runner-up last season to Aces star A’ja Wilson, who won her third career MVP award.
The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the controlling interest in the Timberwolves and Lynx to Rodriguez and Marc Lore last month following four years as limited partners.
The 2009 World Series champion said he’s using knowledge passed down to him by former Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, who died in 2010.
“I gotta tell you, I played for almost 25 years in the major leagues and to be able to take some of my practices that I’ve learned from the life of George Steinbrenner, who was a great boss and an incredible role model,” Rodriguez said. “He expected only the best, so I was able to learn from the best in the business, that was great.
“Over the last four years [as a limited partner], I’ve done an incredible amount of listening and learning and studying … and we have so many incredible governors in our game. We have an amazing commissioner Adam Silver, who said, ‘I want you to do a lot of listening, not a lot of talking and just be a student and learn from some of the great partners.'”
The Timberwolves’ season ended in a Game 5 loss to the Thunder in the Western Conference finals — the second straight year Minnesota fell one round short of its first trip to the NBA Finals.
With the second half of the WNBA season underway, the league-leading Lynx (22-5) are poised for a second consecutive trip to the Finals after falling to the Liberty last season.
“I’m really proud,” said Rodriguez, a 14-time MLB All-Star. “The last two years for the Timberwolves, we’ve been in the final four of 30 teams. And the Lynx, last year were the final two, came down to the wire, we lost to the Liberty.
“And this year, we were off to a hot start with the Lynx. It’s an exciting time. Folks in Minnesota have been very supportive and it’s an incredible sports town.”
Rodriguez was also complimentary of Nets owners Clara and Joe Tsai, who bought the Liberty from James Dolan for a reported $10 to $14 million in 2019.
The Liberty’s valuation is on track to increase to $450 million after the installation of the team’s new $80 million practice facility in Greenpoint.
“She’s a powerhouse,” Rodriguez said of Clara. “I really have a lot of respect and admiration for Claire Tsai and Joe, of course.”
The Lynx face the Liberty (17-8) in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Rodriguez understands that he can impact the local community, including youth sports.
The father of two recently celebrated his 50th birthday during a European vacation with his two daughters, Natasha, 20, and Ella, 17, and his girlfriend, fitness entrepreneur Jaclyn Cordeiro.
The CEO of A-Rod Corp — an investment firm that backs companies across real estate, sports and entertainment — went public with their relationship in December 2022.
Rodriguez, who has worked as an MLB analyst for Fox Sports since 2017, signed a multi-year contract with the network in 2023.