Napheesa Collier Isn’t Playing Wednesday But the Lynx Are Still Her Team. Reeve Made That Clear.

The Minnesota Lynx play the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night, and Napheesa Collier won’t be on the floor. Again. She’s officially listed as out with a left ankle injury, per the WNBA’s injury report. The Sparks have their own issues — Kelsey Plum is out with a left lower leg injury, and Cameron Brink is questionable with a left ankle issue. But Collier’s absence is the story that keeps hanging over this Lynx season.

Collier hasn’t played a game yet in 2026. She had offseason surgeries on both ankles and has only recently rejoined practice. The team is being careful. Really careful. Coach Cheryl Reeve said after a win over the Liberty on July 12 that Collier’s return is close but didn’t give a date. “You don’t know what the game situations are going to bring, and so it’s going to be a little bit of feeling it out, trial and error,” Reeve said. “I don’t have a date for you as to when, but obviously she’s getting really close.”

Here’s the thing though — Reeve also made it clear that even with rookie Olivia Miles playing well and the team winning without Collier, no one has forgotten who this franchise is built around. “It’s still Phee’s team,” Reeve said. “There is not anybody that walks into the gym that doesn’t know that it’s still Phee’s team. What’s great is Courtney and Kayla, they’re very happy to declare that it’s Phee’s team.”

The Lynx are coming off a wild 104-100 comeback win over the Mercury. Kayla McBride dropped 37 points. Miles had another standout night. But Collier is the star who changes the entire ceiling for this group. Minnesota has stayed afloat without her, but nobody in the organization is pretending they’re better off. You don’t replace a two-way forward who can guard multiple positions and score from all three levels.

Lynx vs. Sparks injury report

Lynx:
Napheesa Collier — Out (left ankle)
Emma Cechova — Out (right knee)
Dorka Juhasz — Questionable (right knee)

Sparks:
Kelsey Plum — Out (left lower leg)
Cameron Brink — Questionable (left ankle)

So no, Collier isn’t playing Wednesday. But Reeve’s comments make it sound like the wait is winding down. When she does come back, the Lynx will have to figure out how all the pieces fit — especially with Miles emerging as a real contributor. But nobody in Minnesota seems worried about that. They’re just waiting for their star to get back on the court.