Minnesota Lynx standout forward Napheesa Collier is set to return to the court Wednesday when her team takes on the Seattle Storm on the road, but head coach Cheryl Reeve confirmed she will be limiting how many minutes her star player sees in action.
Collier, 29, has earned back-to-back Most Valuable Player runner-up honors and claimed the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award. Her last game came on Sept. 27, 2025, when she suffered torn ligaments in her left ankle during a playoff defeat against Phoenix. She went on to have surgery on both ankles in the offseason.
Reeve spoke to reporters Wednesday about her approach to easing Collier back into game action.
“I’m going to be mindful of how many minutes she plays, but she hates the idea of a minutes restriction, so just don’t tell her,” Reeve said with a laugh.
The coach also tempered expectations for Collier’s immediate performance, adding, “We still have a couple more steps to go before we see the Phee we know her to be.”
Despite playing the entire season without their star forward, the Lynx have been one of the league’s best teams. Minnesota currently sits atop the standings at 21-6, fueled by a strong showing from rookie guard Olivia Miles, who is averaging 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, along with veteran Kayla McBride, who is putting up 18.1 points per game while shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.
