Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Double Ankle Surgery Sidelines Napheesa Collier 4–6 Months, Rules Her Out of Unrivaled

A joint Lynx–Unrivaled medical review recommended surgery after her rehab progress stalled.

Overview

  • Unrivaled announced that Collier will miss the league’s 2026 season after exhausting non-surgical options for ankle injuries suffered during the 2025 WNBA campaign.
  • The procedures are scheduled for the first week of January in New York and are expected to be performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley, according to multiple reports.
  • Her recovery timeline of four to six months could overlap the Minnesota Lynx’s season start, which remains uncertain as the WNBA and WNBPA negotiate a new CBA ahead of a Jan. 9 deadline.
  • Golden State Valkyries forward Temi Fagbenle will replace Collier on the Lunar Owls roster as Unrivaled’s second season begins Jan. 5.
  • Collier, a co-founder of Unrivaled and a WNBPA vice president, wrote on Instagram that she was heartbroken to miss the season but was told surgery was the best path forward.