Image Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Is Napheesa Collier Playing Today? Update on Lynx Star’s Availability for Semifinals Game 4 vs Phoenix Mercury

Collier suffered an ankle injury in the final seconds of Game against the Mercury.

Image Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Lynx will be up against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA semifinals series on Sunday, September 28. The Lynx kicked off the series on a favorable note and put down the Mercury in blowout fashion. In Game 2, the Mercury pulled off a historic 20-point comeback to level the series 1-1.

As action moved to Phoenix, the Lynx were hopeful of defeating the Mercury in their own backyard and clinching the series. However, as luck would have it, the Mercury not only suffered an 84-76 loss, but also lost their star player Napheesa Collier to an ankle injury.

In the final seconds of Game 3, the star forward twisted her ankle after an incidental contact from Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas. Collier limped off the court in tears and didn’t return for the remainder of the game. While there was no statement from the Lynx, head coach Cheryl Reeve said in the post-game interview that the 29-year-old might have sustained a fracture.

Is Napheesa Collier Playing Tonight?

Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve Suspended pic.twitter.com/RgBAwRwOZa
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) September 27, 2025

Napheesa Collier will be out of action as the Lynx lock horns with the Mercury on Sunday. Minnesota has listed Collier as out on the official injury report alongside DiJonai Carrington. Notably, Carrington has been sidelined for the remainder of the postseason. She suffered a left foot injury in the opening round of the playoffs.

Collier’s loss is a devastating blow for Minnesota, considering she is one of the most elite and skilled players in the league right now. The runner-up for league MVP, Collier averaged 20.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across five playoff games. She also delivered a historic regular season, becoming the only second player in the league to shoot 50% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc, and 90% at free-throw line.

Apart from Collier, the Lynx will also be without their head coach Cheryl Reeve. Reeve was handed a one-game suspension by the WNBA after she stormed on the court and later criticized the officials brutally.

In a statement, the league announced, “Her conduct and comments included aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a game official on the court, failure to leave the court in a timely manner upon her ejection with 21.8 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, inappropriate comments made to fans when exiting the court and remarks made in a post-game press conference.”

It is to be seen how Lynx, once the favorites to win the championship, fare without Collier and head coach when elimination fears loom over.

2025 WNBA Playoffs

Napheesa Collier

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.