Lynx rule out Napheesa Collier for WNBA semifinals Game 4 vs. Mercury
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier will miss Sunday’s Game 4 against the Phoenix Mercury due to a left ankle injury, the Lynx announced Saturday.
Collier suffered the injury with less than 30 seconds remaining in Minnesota’s 84-76 loss in Game 3, during a consequential sequence that also led to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve being suspended for Sunday’s contest. Collier appeared to roll her ankle late in the game as she fell to the ground following a steal by Mercury star Alyssa Thomas. She left the game with 21.8 seconds remaining and needed assistance heading to the locker room.
Reeve said afterward that Collier probably has a fracture, though the team has not provided further details about the severity of her injury. Collier had missed more than three weeks earlier this season with a right ankle injury, during which Minnesota went 5-2 in her absence.
Trailing the best-of-5 series 2-1, the Lynx will have to win Game 4 without their star forward and without coach Cheryl Reeve on the sidelines.
The WNBA announced Saturday that Reeve would be suspended for Game 4 due to her conduct and comments during and after Minnesota’s defeat. According to the league statement, her conduct included aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a game official on the court, failure to leave the court promptly upon ejection with 21.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, inappropriate comments made to fans while exiting the court, and remarks during a post-game press conference.
Lynx lead assistant Eric Thibault is expected to assume Reeve’s role on Sunday.
In Collier’s absence this season, reserve forward Jessica Shepard moved into Minnesota’s starting lineup for six of the seven games Collier missed, while forward Maria Kliundikova started once. Regardless of who starts, both bigs are expected to play a more significant role in the elimination game.
The top-seeded Lynx entered the semifinals aiming to reach consecutive WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017. Meanwhile, Phoenix has not made the WNBA Finals since 2021.
*Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury — WNBA 2025*
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