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The best team in the WNBA is about to get even better.
On Wednesday, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier will make her season debut, per The Athletic's Annie Costabile, in her team's final game before the 2026 All-Star break at the Seattle Storm (6-22) after undergoing a pair of offseason ankle surgeries. Minnesota entered Wednesday with a 21-6 record, leading the WNBA standings by two games.
A five-time All-Star, Collier averaged 21.6 points per game on 50.1 percent shooting while adding 8.5 rebounds, three assists, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks from 2023-25 and finished as MVP runner-up to Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson the past two seasons while earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier set to make season debut against Seattle Storm
While it's unclear how large a role Collier will have in her return, Costabile reported she "will presumably be on a minutes restriction" while also noting the seven-year veteran "has never come off the bench in her WNBA career."
If she starts immediately, Collier would likely replace forward Nia Coffey, who has started every game this season and is shooting 38.8 percent from beyond the arc. Thanks to an impressive team around her, Collier won't have the carry the Lynx, instead having the luxury of being eased back into an A1 role.
One fascinating development will be how quickly Collier and estimated Rookie of the Year guard Olivia Miles form an on-court connection. Miles, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft, leads the Lynx with 19.6 points and 5.9 assists per game. She's hardly looked like a first-year player this season, and if anything, we'd expect Collier's return to make her job even easier.
Before the season began, expectations were low for Minnesota, which not only was without Collier indefinitely but also lost key 2025 contributors Bridget Carleton, Natisha Hiedeman, Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith in the offseason.
Rather than take a step back from last year's 34-10 record, however, the Lynx are well on their way to repeating that success and more. Minnesota was 22-5 at the same juncture last season, tied for the second-best 27-game start in franchise history, but fell in the semifinals of the playoffs after losing Collier to injury.
With nearly a half-season to get into peak form before the playoffs, Collier is coming back at the perfect time for Minnesota. Last season, her absence cratered the Lynx's incredible campaign. Less than 12 months later, Collier's return could herald a title run.
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