Napheesa Collier injury update: Lynx star, WNBA MVP favorite goes ...
Collier, who hadn't played since Aug. 2, led the Lynx to a win over the Fever
www.cbssports.comHere’s the latest on Napheesa Collier.
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Injury/availability updates: Napheesa Collier underwent surgery on her left ankle in early 2026 and was expected to miss the start of the season while rehabbing. She was anticipated to begin on-court activities in June, with a timeframe that could affect her early-season availability for the Lynx [sources cited: FOX Sports summary of multiple outlets including USAToday/AP reports; CBS Sports injury update coverage].[1][2]
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2025 performance context: Before the 2026 news cycle, Collier had a standout 2025 season, averaging around 23 points per game with strong rebound and assist numbers, contributing to significant contract discussions and MVP-front-runner considerations during that year [CBS Sports injury update], which helps frame expectations for her return and impact when fully healthy.[2]
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2026 season implications: Given the ankle procedures and rehab timelines reported, her absence or limited early-season action could impact Minnesota Lynx’ rotation and scoring load, potentially shifting more responsibility to teammates early in the season until she’s cleared for full participation [FOX Sports article context, ].
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Other coverage: A mix of outlets has tracked her injury status and rehab progress through mid-2025 into 2026, including general injury updates, season previews, and post-injury return analyses from outlets like NBC Sports, ESPN, and ClutchPoints, indicating ongoing public interest in her health and season trajectory [NBC Sports, ESPN, ClutchPoints references in web results].[6][7]
If you’d like, I can pull more precise dates or summarize how this injury timeline may influence Lynx’s early-season rotations, or track her return milestones as new reports come out. I can also fetch the latest official team updates or compile a quick timeline.