Lynx forward Napheesa Collier shines in season debut with double-double

· Yahoo Sports

Before the Minnesota Lynx's road matchup against the Seattle Storm, head coach Cheryl Reeve gave Napheesa Collier a piece of advice ahead of her long-awaited return to the court.

Visit betsport24.es for more information.

"Cheryl (Reeve) did say ... 'It's going to take time to come back and to get settled in,'" Collier said Wednesday, July 22.

Well, it didn't take long for the five-time All-Star to get back into the swing of things. Collier recorded a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Lynx's 86-76 win over the Storm, marking her first game since Sept. 26, 2025.

"I was just so excited. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I couldn't wait to get on the court to get with these guys," Collier said. "I was just really just happy to be here. ... It's just a year of pent-up excitement."

Collier underwent surgeries to both ankles this offseason after suffering multiple ankle injuries during the 2025 WNBA season. She injured her ankle during a 111-58 win over the Las Vegas Aces in August 2025 and missed 11 games. During Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury, Collier suffered a Grade 2 tear of three ankle ligaments and her shin muscle after a collision with Alyssa Thomas.

Reeve called Collier's "impressive" season debut poetic — "Interesting that number 24 scores 24 on her return" — and said her performance was "above anything I could have expected." Collier echoed the same sentiment, saying she entered Wednesday's game focused on defense alone. But her impact was felt on both sides of the ball.

Collier was on a minutes restriction on Wednesday, which was conveniently timed to the Lynx's last game before the 2026 WNBA All-Star break to give Collier extra time to recover from her first game back. Collier played 22 minutes in the win, shooting 9-of-20 from the field and 2-of-6 from the 3-point line.

"I thought we did a great job managing the minutes. ... She'll tell you those first three minutes were the hardest of all the minutes she played. Just adrenaline and then adrenaline crash," Reeve said following the win.

Collier agreed, saying she really "needed that first sub" with 7 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The game plan was simple: Continue to play the same way that's led the Lynx to the top of the WNBA standings.

"I told the others that we didn't want to focus on (Collier) being out there," Reeve said. "We just wanted to play like we've been playing and Phee will find her way in and fit in and that's exactly what she did. She found her spot. She's just a really good basketball player. And second half, we did a little bit more putting her in actions as she got a little more comfortable."

Collier said she was just happy to be out on the court with (her teammates) again, jokingly adding that the team's success left her a little jealous and fueled her desire to return.

"Obviously (Kayla McBride) is a huge reason why I want to get back on the court, too. Mac looks like she's having so much fun," Collier said. "My teammates always have me. They always have my back. They're encouraging me throughout this whole process, today included. So I knew that they had me no matter what."

Reeve said Wednesday's win marks a "big step" toward Collier getting fully up to speed.

"Now, like I said, it's just continuing to build her, catching up conditioning-wise with the rest of the league because they're all in mid-season form and she's got to catch up," Reeve said. "And so there'll be ups and downs. There's no doubt about it. And happy for her that she started with being darn impressive in her debut."

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lynx forward Napheesa Collier shines in season debut with double-double

Read full story at source