Lynx's Napheesa Collier update is scary news for the rest of the WNBA

That the Minnesota Lynx's overhauled roster has the best record in the WNBA at 7-2 is one thing.

That the Lynx have gotten to 7-2 without their best player on the court for a single minute is another entirely.

Napheesa Collier, the WNBA MVP runner-up in each of the past two seasons, last played a competitive game on Sept. 26, 2025. That night, in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury, Collier suffered a ligament tear in her left ankle that required surgery. The Lynx were eliminated two nights later, and Collier missed the entire Unrivaled season as she recovered.

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Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve revealed Wednesday that Collier "has been on the court" and is "doing basketball things" as she inches closer to a return.

“I’m not equipped today to tell you exactly where she’s at," Reeve said. "What does 'on-court activity' mean? She’s been on the court. Team-related activities and things like that, no we’re not there. But she’s been on court doing basketball things.”

Collier return is hardly imminent, but there is no doubt that she is making meaningful progress to hit the hardwood again before the All-Star Game next month.

Collier and star rookie Olivia Miles are expected to form quite the duo when they share the court together, and Reeve said Minnesota's early Miles-led success has no bearing on whether the Lynx will take it easy with Collier's return to action.

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