The Minnesota Lynx will have a familiar face leading them onto the court on Wednesday night for their matchup against the Seattle Storm. Napheesa Collier, who has been sidelined for nearly two and a half months while recovering from ankle surgery, will make her season debut against Natisha Hiedeman and the Storm.
It will be Collier’s first appearance for Minnesota since September 26, 2025, when she suffered the injury during Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury.
Hours before tipoff against the Storm, Annie Costabile of The Athletic reported:
“BREAKING: Napheesa Collier will make her season debut tonight, a source familiar tells me. Collier has been sidelined for the first 10 weeks of the season as she worked her way back from a pair of ankle injuries that required surgery this offseason.”
At the time the 2026 season started, Collier was ruled week-to-week and subsequently missed half of the games this season. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve also expressed uncertainty about her recovery timeline, saying it could take four or five weeks depending on how her rehabilitation progressed. However, Reeve remained optimistic that Collier would return before the WNBA All-Star break.
Now, that return has arrived.
Collier is expected to rejoin the lineup Wednesday night as the Lynx take on the Storm at Climate Pledge Arena, giving Minnesota a significant boost as it looks to maintain the top spot in the WNBA standings.
Minnesota Set to Ease Napheesa Collier Back Into Action
Getting Napheesa Collier back is no small feat for the Minnesota Lynx as they continue to hold a two-point lead over the second-place Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA standings.
In Collier’s absence, rookie guard Olivia Miles has held down the fort, helping the Lynx stay atop the standings. Miles has enjoyed a historic rookie season, averaging 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game.
That said, as exciting as Collier’s return is, the Lynx will likely prioritize her long-term health over immediate production. Given that she has not played in nearly two and a half months, Minnesota could place her on a minutes restriction initially, allowing her to gradually rebuild her conditioning while minimizing the risk of being injured again.
This will be Minnesota’s final game before the All-Star break, making it an ideal opportunity for the Lynx to build momentum as they look to earn their seventh straight victory.
Read More:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
