It has been a minute since Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve crashed out to end the season. It was warranted as the WNBA officials completely embarrassed themselves in the playoffs, and Napheesa Collier left the final game injured.
The WNBA season won’t kick off until next spring, but Collier is a co-founder of the three-on-three winter league, Unrivaled, and now will miss extended time due to a massive surgery.
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Lynx star Napheesa Collier in for extensive rehab
Following their exit from the playoffs, and the way in which they were eliminated, Napheesa Collier challenged WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a quest for accountability. She needed to work through rehab for a serious ankle injury, but it has now been determined that surgery is necessary.
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The former Rookie of the Year, Collier was robbed of her first MVP in 2025. Finishing second for the second-straight season, Collier averaged a career-best 22.9 points per game.
She elevated her status to the best in the game when it comes to the virtual realm last year. In NBA 2K26, Collier’s 98 overall rating was best in the sport, and ahead of MVP-winner A’ja Wilson.
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Set to miss four-to-six months, the timeline falls somewhere between April and June. That would put the start of the WNBA season in question, and won’t give Collier the opportunity to compete in her Unrivaled league this winter.
The Minnesota Lynx finished first in the WNBA last season, but bowed out in the semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury. They are looking for their fifth WNBA championship.
After trading out of an opportunity to draft Angel Reese in 2024, the Lynx now have the second-overall pick in 2026. They will have a serious opportunity to draft an impact player alongside Collier right out of the gate.
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