Napheesa Collier Injury Update
Basketball fans already heard, but if you missed it, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier is out after a rough ankle sprain. It all went down during the Lynx’s stunning blowout win versus Vegas on August 2.
She was hustling in transition when she landed on Alanna Smith’s shoe, twisted her right ankle bad, and dropped straight to the court. At first, she tried standing. Didn’t matter — just too much pain. Trainers were there almost instantly, and after a super tense minute where everyone got quiet, teammates and even Vegas players tried making a wall around her with towels for privacy.
Eventually, she left for the locker room, limping, not coming back.
The Lynx front office wasted no time the next day. Imaging showed it was “just” a sprain, but a bad one. Collier avoided major damage but still, the team made it clear: she's missing at least two weeks and then they’ll re-check how she’s doing. Fans? Huge collective sigh of relief, honestly. That replay looked nasty, and people were fearing possible season-ending ligament stuff. Not this time.
Napheesa Collier walked off the court with assistance after suffering an apparent foot injury.
Napheesa Collier Injury Status
Right now, Collier’s official status for Minnesota is “out” with a sprained right ankle. The Lynx listed her as “GTD” (Game-Time Decision) for a while, but after the MRI, it’s formal — a minimum two-week recovery, with a re-evaluation scheduled August 18. Her teammates are stepping up and Lynx coaches are staying cautious. You get why: they got a solid lead atop the league, and nobody's risking her ankle ahead of the postseason. Anyone who saw that injury live probably agrees — rushing back would be a mistake.
JamesPizon on X(Twitter) posted that “This is GREAT news! Looked really bad & was very concerned tendon involved & out for entire season. Happy to hear this news! Wishing Phee a complete & speedy recovery.”
Napheesa Collier Stats
If you’re tracking Collier’s numbers, season’s been incredible before the setback. She’s right at the top in the MVP conversation for a reason:
- Points per game: 23.5–24.4
- Rebounds: 7.5–8.5
- Assists: 3.5–3.6
- Steals: 1.8
- Blocks: 1.5–1.6
- Shooting: Hovering around 52% from the floor and over 93% on free throws in high volume
- Minutes: She averages a heavy workload, about 33–35 per game
Her efficiency? Ridiculously high. She’s also the team’s engine — leading the Lynx in nearly every stat that matters. This kind of production is why people are worried Minnesota’s playoff hopes hinge a bit on her getting back at full strength.
When will Napheesa Collier be Back?
Best-case? August 16, right in time for a grudge matchup against the Liberty. But “re-evaluation” after a sprain is tricky — could be a little sooner, or maybe not till end of August/beginning of September. If everything heals right, she probably returns with at least a couple weeks left in the regular season before playoffs start September 11. Team’s not rushing, though. With a 5.5-game cushion atop the standings, the Lynx can afford to be patient.
If she pushes, she misses 3–4 games. If the ankle needs more TLC, it’s up to 7 games lost. Worst case? She sits the rest of regular season to be full power for the playoffs.
According to Bleacher Report Napheesa Collier will be out for two weeks.
The whole thing’s just a reminder: WNBA stars are irreplaceable. Minnesota’s holding the fort, but you can feel the nerves around Target Center, waiting for those magic words: “Napheesa Collier cleared to play.” When that happens, buckle up for the playoffs — Collier and the Lynx will have something to prove.
