Napheesa Collier Returns Triumphantly to Lead the Lynx
WNBA star Napheesa Collier returned to action on Friday night after missing two games due to a back injury, and led the league-leading Minnesota Lynx to a 96-92 overtime victory over the Atlanta Dream in College Park, Georgia. Collier had missed the Lynx’s previous two games: a win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday and a loss to the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. She stated that she returned for Friday’s game ready to play as long as necessary for Minnesota (13-2). Collier played 40 of the 45 minutes, finishing with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks. He was 8 of 18 from the field and a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line. The game went a little longer than usual due to overtime and an 8-minute delay in the second quarter after the lights flickered in the Gateway Center Arena due to a thunderstorm.Collier, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year last season and MVP runner-up, is averaging 24.5 points this season. In the Minnesota game against the Las Vegas Aces on June 17, she had to leave in the third quarter because her back hurt. Minnesota still won that game to secure a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship. That will be played on Tuesday in Minneapolis against the Indiana Fever. It’s part of a five-game series in eight days for the Lynx, starting Sunday at home against the Connecticut Sun. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve praised Collier’s ability to return to action playing so well, especially against a team with as much interior presence as the Dream.If this were the playoffs, I would have returned sooner. But I wanted to make sure I came back without any load management, without minute restrictions, 100% ready to play.
Napheesa Collier
It’s not necessarily an easy game to come back to, with the great players they have. Phee has always been a player who fills the stat sheet. Obviously, she was special to us.
Cheryl Reeve
