Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier is returning to the Minnesota Lynx.
On Thursday, April 16, ESPN reported that the five-time WNBA All-Star signed a one-year, $1.4 million super max contract with the Lynx to remain in Minnesota, where she’s spent the first seven years of her career.
Advertisement
Collier finished second in the MVP voting last season after becoming the second player in WNBA history to record a 50-40-90 year, finishing the regular season with a 50% field goal percentage, 40% 3-point field goal percentage and 90% free throw percentage. Elena Delle Donne is the only other WNBA player to achieve the feat.
Collier set career-highs in points (22.9) and blocks (1.5) en route to leading Minnesota to a franchise-best 34-10 record. She was named to the All-WNBA and first-team All-Defensive last season. However, Collier’s record-breaking season was cut short after she suffered a Grade 2 tear of three ankle ligaments and her shin muscle during a collision with Alyssa Thomas in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals.
Collier underwent offseason surgery on both of ankles in January, forcing her to miss the second season of Unrivaled, a 3×3 basketball league she founded with Breanna Stewart.
“I am heartbroken to share that I will miss this Unrivaled season,” Collier wrote in an Instagram post in January. “I have fought hard over the last few months to be back with my (Lunar) Owls and was devastated to be told by my team of doctors that surgery was the best path forward. I will still be cheering on my teammates every step of the way, and I will continue to work relentlessly with the rest of the players and our staff to push our sport forward and raise the bar for women’s basketball.”
Advertisement
It’s not clear if Collier will be on the court for the Lynx when the 2026 WNBA season tops off on May 8. ESPN initially reported that Collier would be sidelined 4-6 months, setting up possible return as early as next month or July at the latest.
Collier was invited to Team USA’s training camp in Phoenix earlier this month, but she didn’t participate. She was spotted wearing a boot on her ankle during Final Four weekend of the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Napheesa Collier signs super max contract with Minnesota Lynx
