Nafeesa Collier’s Injury and Upcoming Challenges
Nafeesa Collier’s 2025 WNBA season ended in disappointment when she couldn’t finish the second round of the playoff series with the Minnesota Lynx due to injury. This was in October, and her hope was to bounce back in time for the Unrivaled season starting on January 5th. Unfortunately, early in the new year, it was confirmed that she’d need more time to recover.
According to a statement from Unrivaled, Collier is set to undergo surgery on both ankles. This step is said to be strongly encouraged and could be her best path to feeling better in the long term. However, the downside is that she could be sidelined for about four to six months as she heals.
This timeline suggests that she’ll miss the entire second season of Unrivaled. Last year, Collier was pivotal in leading the Lunar Owls to the semifinals, claimed the league MVP title, and triumphed in the midseason head-to-head tournament. She was, without a doubt, one of the standout players in the league. Besides her performance, as a co-founder, she contributed significantly to the perks and experiences that made Unrivaled notable for both her team and herself.
There’s also a possibility that she might miss the start of the WNBA season. With recovery being a key factor—camp begins in April and the season kicks off in May—Collier would need to be on the quicker end of her recovery to be ready for the Lynx’s opener.
The only scenario where she might avoid a lengthy absence at the season’s beginning is if the league’s schedule gets pushed back. Given the current state of CBA negotiations, that scenario is not entirely out of the question.
On December 31, reports indicated that there’s still quite a gap between player expectations and what the WNBA is offering. This discrepancy covers not only salaries but also various other important aspects.
With January 9th rapidly approaching, discussions around potential business suspensions may soon commence. The WNBPA has prepared to authorize a strike if such measures come into play. If the January deadline isn’t met, it’s almost guaranteed that the WNBA season will face some delays.
If that delay does happen, Collier might have some additional time to recuperate. Missing the Unrivaled season, however, will be a significant loss—not just for the Lunar Owls but for the league at large. This unfortunate turn means the league has lost its MVP, opening up space for other players to emerge in the head-to-head tournament.
For Collier, the immediate priority is to finalize a new CBA, focus on her recovery for the WNBA season, and hopefully stay fit enough to represent Team USA at the Women’s World Cup in Germany later this fall.
