The good news for the Lynx? Napheesa Collier has signed a supermax contract that will keep her with the franchise in the short term.
The bad news for the Lynx? It doesn’t necessarily mean she will remain with the franchise in the long term.
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As a part of the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement — which Collier played a big role in helping negotiate — she is now in position to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in her career after this season.
That much can’t be ignored when considering Collier signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract with the Lynx, while A’ja Wilson signed a three-year, $5 million supermax contract with the Las Vegas Aces.
Not that Collier was willing to entertain those conversations. Asked about her future on Friday afternoon at Mayo Clinic Square in downtown Minneapolis, she tried her best to stay focused on her present, saying, “I’m so focused on right now.”
Originally selected by the Lynx with the No. 6 pick in the 2019 WNBA draft, Collier has slowly but surely developed into a superstar. She has twice finished as the runner-up in MVP voting and most recently averaged 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds while becoming only the second player in league history to finish with a 50-40-90 shooting percentage split.
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As she reflected on her growth as a player to this point, Collier noted how much she appreciates Minnesota for welcoming her with open arms, adding that she wouldn’t be able to have reached her full potential without that support.
“The opportunities I’ve had and the people I’ve got to meet through this has been so special,” Collier said. “I’m so grateful for all of that.”
It’s worth noting that Collier praised Cheryl Reeve for the way she’s continuously been able to construct winning teams in Minnesota. That isn’t something Collier takes for granted as competition across the WNBA continues to ramp up.
“She has such a unique ability of finding that balance of great players and great people,” Collier said. “That’s why the Lynx culture has been been what it has been.”
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It’s unclear when Collier will be available for the Lynx. She’s still recovering from ankle surgery that is expected to keep her out for the early portion of this season. She arrived at Friday’s news conference regarding her signing on crutches, while wearing a walking boot on her left ankle.
The only tangible update Collier provided was that she was working as fast as she possibly can with the doctors and training staff. She emphasized that, while adding that her ultimate goal is to win a championship.
“Everything is going well,” Collier said with a smile. “You’ll see me soon.”
