Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, a leading MVP candidate this season, will be out indefinitely due to aggravated plantar fasciitis in her left foot, head coach Cheryl Reeve informed reporters before the team’s victory over the Washington Mystics on Saturday.
Collier sustained the injury during the Lynx’s 78-73 loss to the Connecticut Sun on July 4. Late in the third quarter, Collier was on the left wing when she started to cut towards the basket and felt something in her foot. She immediately signaled to the bench and limped off the court at the next dead ball, heading to the locker room under her own power but with a noticeable limp. She did not return to the game.
Before her exit, Napheesa Collier was putting up another strong performance with nine points, six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. At the time, the Lynx were trailing 55-53 and subsequently struggled, being outscored 19-11 over the next 10 minutes and enduring a six-minute scoring drought in the fourth quarter.
Collier has been having a standout season, averaging 20.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game—all career highs except for scoring. She ranks fourth in the league in scoring, third in rebounding, and third in steals. She was on pace to join Chamique Holdsclaw as the only other player in WNBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists for a season.
Collier’s performance has been crucial for the Lynx, who started the season with a 13-3 record and won the Commissioner’s Cup championship for the first time in franchise history. Despite their recent victory over the Mystics, they are just 2-3 in their last five games. Collier’s absence comes at a challenging time as the team heads out on a West Coast road trip.
The Lynx have four more games before the Olympic break from July 18 to August 15. It is uncertain if Napheesa Collier will return before this break, but there is hope she will be back when the season resumes. Collier is also set to represent Team USA in Paris later this month, though her status for the tournament is still undecided.
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