Napheesa Collier reportedly returns to Lynx on 1-year, $1.4 million supermax deal

Napheesa Collier reportedly agreed to terms with the Minnesota Lynx on a one-year, $1.4 million contract, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.

She is the third WNBA player to land a supermax deal so far with the new collective bargaining agreement, joining A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever. Wilson, the reigning league MVP and Finals MVP is the only one of that trio to get a multiyear deal.

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The Lynx had previously hit Collier with a core qualifying offer, giving them exclusive negotiating rights and guaranteeing Collier the supermax for 2026. By signing only a one-year deal, Collier will be able to enter free agency next year and not be locked down by the core designation.

Collier returns to Minnesota with championship aspirations, after the team got bounced out of the semifinals last fall despite being the No. 1 team in the standings nearly all season.

It will be a different team in 2026, as Minnesota has seen key contributors Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton exit in free agency and through the expansion draft, respectively. They have, however, re-signed Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, and also landed TCU star Olivia Miles with the No. 2 pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft.