Star forward Napheesa Collier will make her season debut when the Minnesota Lynx travel to face the Seattle Storm this afternoon. Collier, the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, missed the first 27 games as she recovered from surgery on both ankles. She had been practicing with the Lynx since July 1.
SHE’S BACKKKKKKKKKKK. pic.twitter.com/um508bPiaO
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 22, 2026
2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year to Make Season Debut
Collier is coming off a career season. Collier, who finished runner-up in MVP voting for a second straight season, averaged 22.9 points on 53.1% shooting from the field and 1.5 threes at a 40.3 percent clip. The four-time All-Defensive Team selection also added 7.3 rebounds (1.9 offensive), 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks in 33 games. She became just the second player in WNBA history to shoot at least 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 90% from the free throw line.
Collier missed three weeks of action last August due to a right ankle injury. Then, in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury, Collier tore ligaments in her left ankle. She had surgery on her right ankle on New Year’s Day and then on her left in March.
Minnesota’s ready for Phee’s return. 💙 pic.twitter.com/WmQl8Rudpz
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 22, 2026
Despite being without their star forward, Minnesota owns the league’s best record at 21-6 heading into today’s 3 p.m. game at Seattle. The Lynx have won six straight and are coming off a 105-102 victory over the Storm on Monday as Kayla McBride and Olivia Miles combined for 55 points on 22 of 40 shooting, and 7 of 14 from the 3-point line. The duo also totaled 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.
Minnesota, which won a league-best 34 games last season, holds a two-game lead over the Las Vegas Aces (18-7) and Golden State Valkyries (19-8). The Lynx are the second-highest scoring team in the W at 91.7 points, shooting 48.4% from the field and a league-best 37.9% from the 3-point line.
The Lynx also rank second in the WNBA in defensive rating and third in scoring defense at 83.1 points, holding opponents to a league-low 42.2% from the field. They also defend the 3-point line well and are outrebounding their opponents by three boards a game. Their +8.6 scoring margin is the best in the league.
In addition, the Lynx are 14-1 against Western Conference teams, with the Aces being the only team to hand them a defeat (100-97). The Lynx are also 11-2 on the road, tying the Aces for the best away record.
Miles is having a monster rookie campaign. Miles leads the way for the Lynx and all rookies with 19.6 points on 50.1 shooting from the field. She also knocks down 1.4 threes while shooting 36.7% from the 3-point line while doling out 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
McBride is having a nice bounce-back campaign and one of the best of her career. McBride averages 18.1 points on a career-best 45.9% shooting from the field and 2.6 treys at 39.4% from deep. Natasha Howard and Courtney Williams are also having strong seasons, with each earning their third All-Star berths.
Seattle (6-22) is on pace for its worst season since its inaugural campaign in 2000, when it won six games for the year. The Storm have lost five straight and seven of eight. While the Storm have lost a league-high 11 games by double digits, they have been much more competitive lately, with five of their last six setbacks having been by five or fewer points.
Ezi Magbegor, the Storm’s most expensive player ($1.25 million), remains out with a facial fracture and has only played in four games this year. Meanwhile, developmental player Taina Mair, the Storm’s first-round pick (No. 14 overall), is active for the first time in 10 contests. Mair has seen 13 minutes over three appearances this year.
What Does Collier’s Return Mean for the Rest of The Lynx Frontcourt Players?
“There are going to be side effects,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve told ESPN. “Ultimately, people are going to be affected minute-wise and maybe therefore production-wise. They are still going to be valuable, [but stats won’t] look as gaudy as when Phee was out.”
With Collier out, Howard and Nia Coffey have certainly filled the void. Both players have started all 27 games this year. Howard is having one of her most efficient seasons at 58.7% shooting and 8.1 rebounds (3.3 offensive). Coffey, who has spent most of her 10-year career as a reserve, is having a career season, though she appears to be headed back to the bench. As Collier is expected to start alongside Howard, Miles, Williams, and McBride today.
It is expected that it will take Collier a little bit of time to get back to playing shape. So, Coffey should still get plenty of run as the first big off the bench. Dorka Juhza had been the first big off the bench since making her debut earlier this month after undergoing foot surgery. But the 26-year-old Hungarian has struggled, averaging 5.6 points on 39.3% shooting from the field and 4.4 rebounds in 20 minutes over five appearances.
Juhza figures to take a hit in the minutes, though she should still get between 10 and 15 minutes a game until Collier is fully back. Antastashia Kosu has appeared in 26 games, averaging 11 minutes a contest, but she projects to see sparse time going forward. Reeve typically uses an eight-man rotation.
Photo Credit: John Jones, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
