Lynx's Napheesa Collier out until June following 'successful' ankle surgery

Atlanta DreamChicago SkyConnecticut SunDallas WingsGolden State ValkyriesIndiana FeverLas Vegas AcesLos Angeles SparksMinnesota LynxNew York LibertyPhoenix MercuryPortland FireSeattle StormToronto TempoWashington MysticsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsLynx’s Napheesa Collier out until June following ‘successful’ ankle surgeryNapheesa Collier's ankle injury cost her the end of the 2025 WNBA semifinals and the entire 2026 Unrivaled season. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Share articleMinnesota Lynx forward and five-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier will be out until at least June as she recovers from a successful surgery on her left ankle, the team announced Tuesday. Collier underwent the procedure on March 24, and the Lynx’s statement said her rehabilitation is “progressing as expected.” Ankle injuries plagued Collier throughout the 2025 WNBA season. She sprained her right ankle during an Aug. 2 win over the Las Vegas Aces before returning on Aug. 24. She played the rest of the season despite the injury. Just over a month later, on Sept. 27, Collier went down clutching her left ankle after colliding with the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals. She was unable to return for the game’s closing moments, and the team later said she tore three ligaments in her ankle and a muscle in her shin. Though she initially said in December that her left ankle would not require surgery, that prognosis changed in January. She has since undergone multiple procedures to repair the damage, and a June return would fit within the projected four-to-six-month timeline. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time All-WNBA player re-signed with Minnesota on a one-year, $1.4 million supermax deal Thursday, a source confirmed to The Athletic. Collier has been with the organization since it selected her with the No. 6 pick in the 2019 draft. Alongside the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, Collier is a co-founder of the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled. The left ankle injury forced her to miss the upstart league’s entire 2026 season, its second since its formation. When healthy, Collier has played for the Lunar Owls BC, and she was the inaugural Unrivaled MVP in 2025. — Annie Costabile contributed to this story. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms