Napheesa Collier shares major injury update ahead of Unrivaled season

Napheesa Collier remains sidelined after tearing three ligaments in her ankle and a muscle in her shin in Game 3 of the WNBA Semi-Finals in late September. Collier, who was the MVP runner-up and had a career year with the Minnesota Lynx, told reporters on Tuesday that she hopes to be ready to play in Unrivaled’s season opener next month.

“I’m still working to get back to 100%,” Collier said. “I’m still doing my rehab every day — it’s gotten way, way better. I’m just taking it every day at a time. I’m excited to get back out there.”

Collier sustained the injury after a collision with Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas late in the fourth quarter of Game 3. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected after the play due to her reaction and was suspended for the deciding Game 4 in the series, which the Lynx dropped.

In October, ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reported that the injury had at least a six-week recovery period.

When healthy, Collier is one of the best women’s basketball players in the world. Last year, she averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game for the Lynx, finishing as MVP runner-up for the second straight year.

She also led Unrivaled in scoring, averaging 25.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game with the Lunar Owls. She won the league’s 1-on-1 tournament.

This season, Unrivaled is once again on the Lunar Owls, but she’ll have a different cast of teammates around her: Aaliyah Edwards, Marina Mabrey, Skylar Diggins, Rachel Banham, and Rebecca Allen. With Collier, the Lunar Owls should have one of the more formidable teams in the league. But without her, they could be lacking critical size and scoring.

The Unrivaled season tips off on January 5th.