Lynx Drop Napheesa Collier Harm Replace Earlier than Sport 4

[ad_1] The Minnesota Lynx will try and stave off elimination with out each their head coach and their franchise participant.

The group introduced Saturday that ahead Napheesa Collier will miss Sport 4 of the WNBA semifinals in Phoenix with a left foot damage suffered within the closing moments of Friday’s 84-76 loss to the Mercury.

The Lynx now path the best-of-five sequence 2-1 and should win Sunday to maintain their season alive.

<img id="10793656" alt="Minnesota Lynx Forward Napheesa Collier" caption="PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 26: Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx and Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury battle for a loose ball during the first half of Game Three of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at PHX Arena on September 26, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="4068" height="2712" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2237632676.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1x" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2237632676.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> Collier went down with 21.8 seconds remaining after Phoenix ahead Alyssa Thomas poked the ball free close to midcourt. Their legs tangled, and Collier rolled her ankle as Thomas raced for the layup that sealed the sport.

Collier limped to the bench in tears earlier than being helped to the locker room. She was later seen leaving the world in a wheelchair.

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Her loss is a devastating blow for Minnesota. Collier, the runner-up for league MVP, averaged 20.6 factors, 6.8 rebounds, and a couple of.4 assists by way of 5 playoff video games whereas drawing the defensive project in opposition to Thomas.

She additionally delivered a historic common season, turning into simply the second participant in WNBA historical past to shoot 50% from the sector, 40% from three, and 90% on the free-throw line.

This isn't the primary time Collier has been sidelined with an ankle subject. She missed seven video games in August with a sprain to her proper ankle, and Minnesota managed a 5-2 document in her absence.

The Lynx completed the 12 months with 34 wins, tying the league document and securing the highest total seed.

Coach Cheryl Reeve, who was ejected from Sport 3 after berating officers within the aftermath of Collier’s damage, may also not be on the sideline.

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The WNBA suspended her for one sport for what it referred to as “verbally abusing a sport official,” failing to exit the court docket in a well timed method and for inflammatory postgame feedback about officiating management.

Affiliate head coach Eric Thibault will take over in her place.

The play that injured Collier has fueled debate all through the league. The Nationwide Basketball Referees Affiliation publicly defended the no-call, posting video of the sequence on-line with the caption: “That is NOT a foul. Thomas legally will get to the ball and knocks the ball free previous to any contact. The leg to leg contact is incidental as soon as the ball is clearly free.”

With out their star ahead and veteran coach, the Lynx will look to Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and their supporting forged to increase the sequence to a decisive Sport 5 again in Minnesota.