The Minnesota Lynx will be without their star player Napheesa Collier for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Seattle Storm after Collier suffered a right ankle sprain. The injury occurred late in the third quarter of the Lynx’s dominant 111-58 victory over the Las Vegas Aces. As a result, Collier is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks as she begins her recovery process.
Further medical examinations confirmed that Collier avoided any major damage, allowing the team to plan for a cautious rehabilitation period. The Lynx have indicated that she will undergo reevaluation in the upcoming weeks to monitor her progress.
Details of Collier’s Injury Incident During the Victory Over the Aces
Collier injured her right ankle while aggressively pursuing an offensive rebound, landing awkwardly and visibly in pain. Despite the discomfort, she was able to leave the court on her own. At the time of the injury, she had already posted an impressive game-high 43 points, further underscoring her value to the team.
Currently, Collier leads the league with an average of 23.8 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per contest, making her the favorite to earn the WNBA MVP award this season.
Coach Cheryl Reeve Addresses Questions Surrounding Collier’s Injury
The timing of Collier’s injury is particularly difficult for the Lynx, who hold the league’s best record at 24-5 and a 5.5-game lead over the New York Liberty. Coach Cheryl Reeve faced scrutiny for keeping Collier and other starters on the floor late in a game that was already a blowout. However, Reeve rejected the notion that she regrets the decision.
“I don’t think about those things,” Cheryl Reeve said. “It’s the third quarter of a game on someone else’s floor, I don’t think the game is over. I don’t think like that. She had a sub there and she wasn’t gonna play in the fourth quarter. Sometimes these things happen.”
Though Reeve acknowledged the criticism, she emphasized the unpredictable nature of injuries and the decisions coaches must make during games.
“I get it, people are gonna rail on me, and that’s part of sitting in the seat that I’m sitting in,” she added. “But we did what we think is right, and sometimes these things happen. It’s unfortunate and hopefully she’ll be OK.”
Outlook for Recovery and Impact on Lynx’s Season
With Collier projected to be sidelined for at least two weeks, the Lynx will likely manage her playing time carefully to ensure a full recovery ahead of the playoffs. Given her critical role as the team‘s leading scorer and rebounder, her absence will create challenges in maintaining their current form. However, the medical staff’s optimistic assessment about the injury being non-serious offers hope that Collier will return to peak condition in time to compete in the postseason.
How the Lynx adapt in the coming weeks without their MVP candidate will be crucial to maintaining their league-leading position as they approach the final stretch of the regular season.