Five-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier is running it back with the Minnesota Lynx after agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million max contract, per multiple reports.<\/p>\n
It’s been a busy offseason for the Lynx, who also signed<\/a> Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and Natasha Howard but lost a slew of players.<\/p>\n Alanna Smith was the co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 but departed for the Dallas Wings. DiJonai Carrington looked rejuvenated after her midseason trade to Minnesota from Dallas but joined the Chicago Sky. Natisha Hiedeman and Jessica Shepard were second and third respectively in the Sixth Player of the Year voting and are now on the Seattle Storm and Wings. <\/p>\n Those left on the roster include:<\/p>\n Napheesa Collier, FDorka Juh\u00e1sz, FNatasha Howard, FAnastasiia Olairi Kosu, FKayla McBride, GJaylen Sherrod, GCourtney Williams, G<\/p>\n Collier had one of the best years of her career in 2025, yet the season came to a bitterly disappointing end.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old was once again runner-up to the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson in the MVP voting, and she suffered an ankle injury<\/a> that sidelined her as Minnesota lost to the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA semifinals.<\/p>\n If Collier had stayed healthy\u2014she missed 11 regular-season games with an ankle sprain\u2014then she might’ve won her first MVP along with a WNBA title.<\/p>\n At the very least, the 6’1″ forward affirmed her status as one of the league’s best players. She averaged 22.9 points on 53.1 percent shooting along with 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks.<\/p>\n Collier became the second player in league history to join the 50\/40\/90 club, having having knocked down 40.3 percent of her threes and 90.6 percent of her free throws. Elena Delle Donne is the only other player to pull off the feat. <\/p>\n Head coach Cheryl Reeve argued that achievement warranted an MVP nod.<\/p>\n “It’s only been done once before, and that player was the MVP,” Reeve said in September, per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews<\/a>. “Phee deserves that recognition. The numbers don’t lie. … It’s done from start to finish. 50\/40\/90 is historic. I don’t know how long it will be before it happens again. Napheesa Collier has been the best player in the WNBA. She deserves MVP.”<\/p>\n