The Minnesota Lynx sit atop the WNBA with a commanding 27-5 record, but their championship hopes face an unexpected test. Napheesa Collier, the five-time All-Star powering their title run, went down at the worst possible moment. While Minnesota keeps winning without her, ESPN’s Kendra Andrews reveals why this injury carries risks that go far beyond the box score.
Why Is Napheesa Collier’s Ankle Injury More Serious Than It Appears?
Collier sustained a right ankle sprain during Minnesota’s clash with the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 2. The injury occurred when she landed awkwardly on teammate Alanna Smith’s foot during a fastbreak layup late in the third quarter.
An MRI confirmed the sprain, and the Lynx announced Collier would be re-evaluated in two weeks. On the surface, this sounded like dodging a bullet. However, during her appearance on the Women’s Hoop Show podcast, Andrews explained why this timeline might be misleading.
“Last Sunday and last Monday and it was revealed, she avoided a major injury, which I think everyone can say, Ok, good, but it is an ankle sprain and ankles are tricky, right?” Andrews said.
She stressed that avoiding a major injury doesn’t mean the Lynx are out of the woods. In basketball, ankle sprains have a reputation for lingering and making it difficult for players to regain peak mobility. The medical check-in represents a progress report, not a guaranteed return date.
“So they say, we’re gonna reevaluate in two weeks. One thing I have learned about covering basketball is that reevaluation in two weeks doesn’t mean she will necessarily be playing in two weeks time, it means she will be looked at again. Maybe that’s when she can start ramping up in practice, a little bit more,” Andrews explained.
“Maybe that’s when the conditioning kinds of starts to get back because I think at the end of the day, the Lynx – especially with what we have, fiveish or four weeks left in the regular season – they don’t care, like they care about the regular season, they care about getting back to the finals, they want to win the finals and Napheesa Collier is their key piece.”
“So, it’s about how much time can we give her to get as healthy as physically possible to then make that run.”
That’s the significant risk Minnesota faces. Ankle injuries can linger, and a premature return could impact Collier’s rhythm and explosiveness when the postseason arrives.
With only 12 regular-season games remaining and the playoffs approaching, the Lynx must balance protecting their franchise cornerstone while keeping their championship aspirations alive.
How Long Can the Lynx Survive Without Their Star?
Before the injury, Collier was enjoying one of the best seasons of her career. She led the WNBA in scoring with 23.5 points per game while ranking in the top five in steals, blocks, and field goal percentage. She earned July’s WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month honors and had missed only three games all season prior to the sprain.
So far, Minnesota has maintained its dominance without her, winning all three games since her absence began. Their record virtually guarantees a playoff spot, but timing remains critical. The two-week re-evaluation means Collier could realistically return for the final stretch of the regular season, giving her time to regain game shape before the playoffs begin.
The Lynx are set on a fifth championship and revenge after falling to the New York Liberty in the 2024 WNBA Finals.
Still, as Andrews pointed out, conditioning and ankle stability matter just as much as clearing medical scans. For now, the Lynx are playing the long game, betting that a fully healthy Collier in September will prove far more valuable than rushing her back in mid-August.
