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Napheesa Collier Says No Surgery Needed, Targets Jan. 5 Unrivaled Return

The Lynx star is progressing through rehab after a playoff injury that kept her out for the series clincher.

Overview

  • Collier confirmed a Grade 2 tear to her ankle and shin muscles sustained in the 2025 semifinals.
  • She said she is taking her recovery day by day with the goal of playing in Unrivaled’s Jan. 5 opener.
  • Doctors did not require surgery, and she remains focused on reaching full strength.
  • The injury occurred after contact with Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas in Game 3, and Minnesota was eliminated in Game 4 without her.
  • Her availability carries outsized weight given her MVP runner-up season, her role as an Unrivaled co‑founder, and uncertainty around the 2026 WNBA calendar.