Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier won't play when the 2026 WNBA season kicks off.
On April 21, the Lynx announced that Collier had surgery on her left ankle on March 24. Minnesota says that Collier's rehab process is "progressing as expected" following the surgery. The current timeline for the Minnesota forward to return to the court is early June. The team says it will provide further updates when they are available.
In January, it was reported that Collier would need surgery on both ankles after suffering multiple injuries during the 2025 WNBA season. The surgeries were expected to sideline the Lynx forward for four to six months. This aligns with Minnesota's latest update provided on Tuesday.
Based on the team's updated timeline, Collier is projected to miss the Lynx's preseason game slate and all eight of their scheduled matchups in May, including the 2026 season opener against the Atlanta Dream.
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)2018: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)1 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)1 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)2 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)3 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)4 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)5 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)6 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)7 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)8 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)9 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2018: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)10 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)11 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)12 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)13 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)14 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)15 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)16 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)17 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)18 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)19 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)20 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)21 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)22 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)23 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)24 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)25 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)26 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)27 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)28 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)29 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)30 / 30WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)Collier recently signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax deal to remain in Minnesota. Once the deal ends, the 29-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent again in 2027.
"I’m so focused on right now, with my injury and, this year, winning a championship. That is what I'm doing," Collier said about signing the one-year deal versus a longer agreement. "Getting back with our amazing staff. Playing with our amazing players and just focused on this year and winning.”
When Collier returns to the court, she will help Minnesota continue its push to win the franchise's fifth overall championship and first since 2017.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will Napheesa Collier play again during the 2026 WNBA season?