Nafeesa Collier Facing a Tough Start to the Year
Nafeesa Collier, star forward for the Lynx, is kicking off the new year on a less-than-ideal note.
She will be missing the upcoming season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 offseason league she co-founded with Brianna Stewart of the Liberty. The team announced that Collier is set to undergo surgery on both ankles, which will keep her sidelined for about four to six months.
The surgery, scheduled for the first week of January, will be carried out in New York City by Dr. Martin O’Malley.
As the WNBA season kicks off in May, it’s possible the Lynx could start off without their best player when the 2026 season begins.
Collier, a five-time All-Star, faced several ankle injuries throughout the past WNBA season. Although she emerged as a top MVP contender, she finished second to A’ja Wilson for the second consecutive year. These injuries impacted the Lynx, who were eager to make a return to the WNBA Finals after a tough loss to the Liberty in five games back in 2024.
In early August, Collier sprained her right ankle during a game against the Aces, which kept her out for three weeks. Later, in the playoffs, she tore three ligaments in her left ankle during Game 3 of the semifinals against the Mercury.
Even after entering the postseason as the top seed, the Lynx ended up losing in four games, missing out on the finals as Phoenix claimed the spot.
In a virtual press conference last month, Collier felt optimistic about her recovery, mentioning she didn’t think surgery would be necessary and that she was working toward getting back to full health by January.
However, just days before the Unrivaled season opener, doctors advised her that recovery would take longer than anticipated.
Collier will be replaced on the Lunar Owls roster by Valkyries forward Temi Fagbenie, as she heads into this challenging period.
Despite all the setbacks, Collier had a strong first year in the WNBA, averaging 22.9 points per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
