WNBA MVP Candidate Ruled Out Against Mercury on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
On Friday, the Phoenix Mercury are scheduled to play against the Minnesota Lynx. It’s expected to be one of the games fans will pay attention to as it will feature a showdown between star forwards Satou Sabally and Napheesa Collier. Unfortunately for the Lynx, they’ve ruled out Collier due to an injury.
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Ahead of the game, Collier was listed as questionable. Ahead of the game, Minnesota’s head coach Cheryl Reeve told the media that the star forward’s knee issues are “precautionary.” Reeve added that the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year has been dealing with her knee problems since 2023.
When asked about Collier’s availability, the head coach did not confirm it initially.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier during an interview after the game with the Seattle Storm at Target Center.Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Heading into the game, the team confirmed that Collier won’t play against Phoenix. Additionally, the star player was seen in street clothes, interacting with fans at PHX Arena.
This will be the first missed game of the season for the star. Since the 2025 WNBA season started, Collier has been active and available for the team. Minnesota is currently on a five-game winning streak and looks to continue even without its best player.
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They’ll be missing their top contributor, Collier, who averages 26.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and three assists this season.
The Mercury, meanwhile, is coming off a back-to-back win. Sabally and her crew won 94-89 on Tuesday against the Chicago Sky. The star forward had 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Fans can witness the first face-off between the two stars on Tuesday, June 3. The Mercury will travel to Minnesota to take on Collier and the Lynx.
Related: WNBA Head Coach Feels ‘Weird’ Playing Mercury Without Diana Taurasi
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
