Lynx star Napheesa Collier to have surgery on ankles

Field Level Media|published: Thu 1st January, 10:47 2026

WNBA: Playoffs-Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx

Sep 23, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) dribbles past Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) in the first half during game two of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

WNBA superstar Napheesa Collier will miss the upcoming Unrivaled season and be sidelined for four to six months following scheduled surgery on both ankles.

Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league Collier co-founded with Breanna Stewart, announced the surgeries and timeline on Thursday, saying that all options to rehabilitate injuries sustained during the 2025 WNBA season had been exhausted.

Collier, 29, was the MVP runner-up in each of the past two WNBA campaigns with the Minnesota Lynx. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged a career-high 22.9 points with 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks in 33 games for the Lynx in 2025.

The five-time WNBA All-Star sprained her right ankle in an Aug. 2 game against the Las Vegas Aces and missed three weeks. She tore ligaments in her left ankle in Game 3 of the league semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury.

Collier has career averages of 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 193 WNBA games (all starts) with Minnesota since it selected her with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Collier was named the MVP of the inaugural Unrivaled season in 2025 after averaging 25.7 points and 10.6 rebounds during the Lunar Owls' 13-1 regular season.

Golden State Valkyries forward Tami Fagbenle will replace Collier on the Owls' roster for 2026 Unrivaled season, which begins on Monday.

--Field Level Media

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