Minnesota Lynx season on the brink without head and star forward originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Minnesota Lynx are staring down elimination in the WNBA semifinals, and the situation just got even worse. Star forward Napheesa Collier has been ruled out of Sunday’s Game 4 against the Phoenix Mercury with a left ankle injury, while head coach Cheryl Reeve will serve a one-game suspension after her heated clash with officials in Game 3.
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Collier went down late in Minnesota’s 84-76 loss on Friday when her leg collided with Phoenix guard Alyssa Thomas. She landed awkwardly on the ankle and immediately crumpled to the floor, visibly emotional as trainers helped her off the court. Reeve later hinted at the possibility of a fracture, though the team has not provided an official diagnosis beyond the ankle injury.
As if losing their franchise player wasn’t damaging enough, the fallout from the play boiled over. Reeve stormed the floor to protest, earning her second technical foul of the night and an ejection. After the game, she blasted the referees, calling their performance “malpractice” and demanding change at the league level. The WNBA responded Saturday by suspending her for conduct that included aggressively confronting an official, delaying her exit after ejection, and making inflammatory comments to fans and media.
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The timing could not be worse. Minnesota trails 2-1 in the best-of-five series and now has to stave off elimination on the road without Collier and Reeve. Collier has been the Lynx’s engine all season, leading the team on both ends of the court. She previously missed seven games this summer with a right ankle sprain, and while the Lynx went 5-2 without her in that stretch, the stakes are far higher now.
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Phoenix, meanwhile, can smell blood. With Alyssa Thomas setting the tone and Diana Taurasi still capable of big moments, the Mercury are one win away from knocking out the top-seeded Lynx and returning to the WNBA Finals.
Game 4 will be a massive moment for Minnesota. Without their star and their coach, the Lynx will need near-perfect execution and breakout performances from role players if they want to force a decisive Game 5 back at Target Center.
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