Minnesota Lynx star and MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier underwent an MRI Monday which confirmed a proper ankle sprain. She will likely be re-evaluated within the coming weeks, the team announced. The damage is predicted to maintain her out a minimum of two weeks, per ESPN. Collier was injured late within the third quarter of the Lynx’s 53-point win over the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday — the biggest street win in league historical past.
The league-leading Lynx will return to motion on Tuesday in opposition to the Seattle Storm, and will likely be with out Collier for a minimum of 4 video games based mostly on a two-week timeline.
Together with her group main by 43, Collier was injured when she stepped on Alanna Smith’s foot whereas trailing a missed fastbreak layup. Collier’s ankle rolled severely and she or he instantly collapsed to the bottom. The Lynx known as a timeout to cease the sport, and Collier tried to face up with the help of Jessica Shepard and Aces star A’ja Wilson. Nonetheless, the ache was an excessive amount of and Collier sat again down as soon as the Lynx’s athletic coach arrived on the scene. Ultimately, Collier was in a position to get to her ft and hobble off the court docket with the assistance of the coach. She instantly went to the locker room and didn’t return.
There have been loads of questions on why Collier was nonetheless within the recreation contemplating the time and rating, however there’s nothing the Lynx can do about that now.
“I do not take into consideration these issues,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve stated when requested if she regretted leaving Collier within the recreation. “It is the third quarter of a recreation on another person’s flooring, I do not suppose the sport is over. I do not suppose like that. She had a sub there and she or he wasn’t gonna play within the fourth quarter. Typically this stuff occur. I get it, persons are gonna rail on me, and that is a part of sitting within the seat that I am sitting in. However we did what we expect is true, and generally this stuff occur. It is unlucky and hopefully she’ll be OK.”
Lynx prone to shedding the No. 1 seed?
After Saturday’s win, the Lynx improved to 24-5 and prolonged their lead over the New York Liberty within the race for the No. 1 general seed to five.5 video games. With simply 15 video games remaining within the common season, the Lynx ought to have sufficient of a cushion to earn homecourt benefit all through the playoffs, however they are going to be with out Collier as they start their most troublesome stretch of the schedule.
Over the subsequent three-plus weeks, the Lynx have three Finals rematches with the reigning champion Liberty and can solely play one recreation in opposition to a group not within the high six of the standings. If there is a silver lining for the Lynx, it is that they’ve some prolonged time without work quickly, and if Collier is ready to come again after two weeks, she may miss as few as 4 video games.
Lynx’s Napheesa Collier may have wrapped up WNBA MVP race with elite performance in win over Liberty
Jack Maloney
It is probably that Collier will likely be out for longer than two weeks, nonetheless, with a view to guarantee she’s as near 100% as attainable for the playoffs, which start on Sept. 14. As a lot because the Lynx need to earn the No. 1 seed and homecourt benefit all through the postseason, that will not matter if Collier is not wholesome. They’re going to want her at her finest in the event that they need to avenge their loss within the Finals final season and win a record-setting fifth championship.
What does Collier’s damage imply for awards races?
Zooming out, Collier’s damage throws a possible wrench in a number of award races.
Most notably, Collier entered Saturday averaging a league-leading 23.8 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks on 53.7% capturing and was the clear favourite to win MVP. Collier has such an edge on this race that, so long as she comes again in two to a few weeks, she ought to comfortably maintain on. Per DraftKings, Collier remains to be a -175 favourite to win MVP over Alyssa Thomas (+250) and Sabrina Ionescu (+1200).
If her absence stretches past that timeline and she or he misses many of the the rest of the common season, which ends on Sept. 11, issues may get fascinating. No MVP has ever missed greater than 5 video games or 15.7% of the season (each Jonquel Jones in 2021). Collier already missed three video games earlier this season and is ready to overlook a minimum of one other 4 with this damage. The WNBA season is for much longer now than ever earlier than, so seven missed video games would solely be 15.9% of the season, proper in step with Jones in 2021.
The Defensive Participant of the Yr race is far more fascinating. Collier, who received the dignity for the primary time final season, was a number one candidate, however not a runaway favourite like she was for MVP. If she solely misses 4 video games and returns at her earlier stage, Collier nonetheless has an opportunity to go back-to-back and turn out to be the ninth participant to win DPOY a number of occasions.
As a result of Collier’s damage, although, the door is extensive open for different gamers. Per DraftKings, blocks chief A’ja Wilson (+200) is now the favourite over Gabby Williams (+250), Alanna Smith (+300) and Ezi Magbegor (+500). Collier (+600) has dropped to the fifth-best odds. This will likely be a tightly contested race down the stretch, particularly if Collier finally ends up lacking greater than two weeks.