After Nearly 300 Days Away, Napheesa Collier is Back Like She Never Left

 

Having played her first game in 299 days after enduring and rehabbing from double ankle surgery, Napheesa Collier hasn't missed a beat.

Collier's Long Road to Recovery

Sustaining a major injury in Game 3 of the WNBA Semifinals last postseason, it was clear that Napheesa Collier would be sidelined for a period of time, but many fans did not expect it to nearly reach 300 days off the court. In their Game 3 matchup with the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Semifinals, Collier tore three ligaments in her left ankle as well as a muscle in her left shin. This gruesome injury would immediately sideline Collier for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, leaving the Minnesota Lynx to fight without their MVP. In Game 4 of their series with the Mercury, the Lynx would fall short of victory, and their 2025 playoff run would end. Following the 2025 WNBA season, Napheesa Collier would also miss the 2026 Unrivaled season, an offseason league that she founded alongside New York Liberty star, Breanna Stewart. You can only imagine how much fans already missed seeing Collier play, but her time off the court was extended as doctors advised that she undergo double ankle surgery due to the extremities of her left ankle injury and the potential risk of harming her right ankle. Because these surgeries were done separately, Collier's return was pushed back, and she was projected to miss the start of the 2026 WNBA season and nearly the first half of the season to be exact. However, after a long and demanding period of recovery alongside her determination and hard work, Collier was officially declared available to compete in the Minnesota Lynx's matchup with the Seattle Storm on July 22, 2026.

The Lynx's Adjustments During Collier's Absence

Seen in Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Semifinals, it was a huge change for the Minnesota Lynx to compete without Napheesa Collier. Having been their lead scorer for several years now, the Lynx were looking to not only find someone to step into Collier's role in terms of scoring, but also in leadership. With this in mind, with the Second-Overall Pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Minnesota Lynx selected Olivia Miles, an elite guard from TCU. When comparing the playstyle of Miles and Collier, the clear difference is their size and position. A shorter guard, Miles can do it all and her scoring was likely the biggest factor in Head Coach Cheryl Reeve and the Minnesota Lynx's front office's decision in drafting her. While Miles and Collier are similar in that they both take control on offense when they're hot, there's also one other common factor between the two and that is defense. A runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in years past, Napheesa Collier is also known for her ability to disrupt on defense. Last season, Collier averaged 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as a 6'1" forward, a very respectable stat line for a considerably undersized forward. Like Collier, Miles is also a menace on defense and is often found picking pockets of opponents for easy layups. This type of intensity and drive to push the pace on both ends of the court is exactly what the Minnesota Lynx needed amid Collier's absence. However, heading into their matchup with the Seattle Storm today, some fans were interested and even worried about how the playing style of two demanding scorers (Miles and Collier) would work. That said, fans of both Miles and Collier have nothing to fear as they seem to be a match made in heaven.

A Statement Return for Collier

Making a heavily anticipated return can be nerve-wracking, especially on a minute's restriction because many players want to start off strong. As many looked forward to Napheesa Collier's first game back, there's no doubt that she was likely nervous and had these thoughts running through her head. That said, nobody would've known it was her first game back on the court because of the electric performance she had. In just 22 minutes of play, Napheesa Collier led the Lynx in scoring with a game-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds. This monstrous double-double from Collier was also done efficiently as she converted nearly 50% of her shots, going 9/20 from the field. On an absolute burner, Collier was also able to knock down 2/6 attempted threes, torching the Seattle Storm from every spot on the court. Not only was this exciting for fans to see Collier excel, but the way she played off of Olivia Miles' passes was something we can look forward to for the remainder of the season as this duo continues to gel and develop chemistry together.

The Road Ahead for Minnesota

Napheesa Collier's return honestly couldn't have come at a better time. While she made her return in the middle of the WNBA season, she did so in a way that she immediately got another short break. The Minnesota Lynx's matchup with the Seattle Storm today (July 22, 2026) was Minnesota's final game before 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend meaning they won't play for 6 days. Although Collier was not honored as an All-Star this year due to her absence, she will likely be in attendance for the game and even make an appearance on the Orange Carpet this tomorrow (Thursday, July 23, 2026). Looking further ahead in the Lynx's schedule, their first matchup after the All-Star break will be in Minnesota against the Toronto Tempo on July 28, 2026. As the Tempo continue to find success with 1x All-Star Marina Mabrey leading the way in pure dominance, it will be interesting to see how the Lynx match up with them with Napheesa Collier back in the rotation. Following this matchup with the Tempo at home, the Lynx will face them again 2 days later in Toronto. Even without Napheesa Collier, the Minnesota Lynx were able to take a commanding 100-72 victory over the Toronto Tempo earlier this season. Can the Minnesota Lynx continue their 7-game win streak and win their series against the Toronto Tempo with Napheesa Collier back in the lineup?