Reeve discusses Collier's recovery decision candidly following a close call with injury
Minnesota Lynx Star Forward Napheesa Collier Sustains Ankle Injury
In a disappointing turn of events during the Minnesota Lynx's 111-58 victory over the Las Vegas Aces, All-Star forward Napheesa Collier was forced to leave the game due to a sprained right ankle. The injury occurred during a fast break in the third quarter, and Collier was helped off the court and back to the locker room.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve spoke about her decision to keep Collier in the game despite the Lynx having a comfortable lead, praising her player's MVP caliber season. Collier, who has been named to her fifth All-Star appearance, had been playing in 25 games before Saturday, averaging over 33 minutes per game. She boasted a field goal percentage of 53.7%, a three-point percentage of 35.9%, and a free throw percentage of 90.6%.
Despite the team's victory, the focus after the game was on Collier, with no immediate injury update available. The official diagnosis for her injury is not yet known and is likely to surface early next week following an MRI at Mayo Clinic Square. The Lynx have emphasized that while Collier is initially expected to be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks, they may keep her out longer to ensure full recovery before the playoffs begin in mid-September.
This injury comes as a blow to the Lynx, who are currently leading the league with a record of 24-5. With a challenging stretch of games against top opponents, including several Finals rematches with the New York Liberty, the team will need to adapt to Collier's absence. However, the Lynx's strong lead in the standings may provide some flexibility in managing Collier's recovery time to have her at maximum health for the postseason.
Napheesa Collier was averaging career-highs in points (23.8), rebounds (7.7), assists (3.4), steals (1.8), and blocks (1.7) before her injury. The Lynx are now the favourites to lock up the No. 1 overall seed and have homecourt throughout the playoffs.
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The Lynx are forced to navigate through a challenging stretch of games without Napheesa Collier, who sustained a sprained ankle during a game against the Las Vegas Aces. The team's postseason preparations may be compromised as they aim to ensure Collier's full recovery before the WNBA playoffs commence in mid-September.
The Lynx, currently leading the league with a record of 24-5, are now facing the daunting task of adapting to Collier's absence in crucial playoff games, including finals rematches with the New York Liberty.
