Napheesa Collier to return for Lynx vs Storm on July 22

Five-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier is set to return to the court on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, when her league-leading Minnesota Lynx face the Seattle Storm, marking her first game action since a severe ankle injury suffered last September. The 29-year-old forward's debut will come with a minutes restriction, according to head coach Cheryl Reeve, as Collier works her way back from offseason surgeries on both ankles.

Collier, the runner-up for Most Valuable Player in each of the last two seasons and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, last played on September 27, 2025, tearing ligaments in her left ankle during a playoff loss to the Phoenix Mercury. She had previously missed three weeks in August 2025 after spraining her right ankle. Following an attempt at rehabilitation, Collier ultimately underwent surgery on both ankles early this year. While she missed the entire first half of the WNBA season, Collier has been a full participant in team practices since July 1.

Her return comes as the Lynx have thrived in her absence, posting a league-best 21-6 record and riding a six-game winning streak. The team's success has been fueled by the emergence of rookie guard Olivia...