Napheesa Collier’s 2026 debut against our very own Seattle Storm just proved one thing: the Minnesota Lynx are absolutely terrifying. The Emerald City crew got a firsthand look at what happens when an MVP-caliber player returns from double-ankle surgery and immediately puts up elite numbers, even as the team had already found phenomenal chemistry without her. It’s a wake-up call for the rest of the league, and especially for teams like ours looking to make noise.
Phee is Back, and She’s Not Missing a Beat
Dude, remember the talk about whether Napheesa Collier could even get enough touches after coming back from that double-ankle surgery? The Lynx were killing it without her, with Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride gelling like crazy. But Phee? She just went and put up 19 points against us in her first game back, looking like her old self. Her 2026 stats in those 10 games? 19 points, 7.4 boards, 2.9 dimes, 1.5 steals, 1.1 blocks, shooting 51.5% from the field, and a ridiculous 47.4% from deep. That’s a serious comeback, even if it’s not quite her 2025 MVP-favorite numbers of 22.9 points and 53.1% shooting. She was also a distant second to A’ja Wilson for MVP in 2024. She’s definitely hungry for that MVP, no doubt, but you gotta think a championship is priority number one.
Miles Is Legit, and The Lynx Are Straight Up Unfair
So, here’s the wild part: Phee is back to MVP form, but she might not even be the best player on her own squad. Olivia Miles didn’t just ‘hold down the fort’ when Collier was out. The No. 2 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft became an MVP candidate in her own right, putting up numbers that make you wonder if we’re seeing the first rookie MVP since Candace Parker back in 2008! Miles is averaging 20.0 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 50.1% from the field in 36 games. Compare that to Parker’s 2008 rookie year of 18.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 52.3% FG in 33 games, and you see why the buzz is real. The Lynx were already the best team without Collier, and now they’ve got this dual threat. They’re currently leading the league by five full games. They should be two-time reigning champs, man. Remember that controversial call in 2024 that cost them Game 5 of the Finals in overtime against the New York Liberty? Or last year, when they were four games better than anyone else but got upset by the Phoenix Mercury in the semifinals after Phee’s ankle injury? With Collier back and Miles balling out, this feels like their year to finally win it all for the first time since 2017.
The Lynx are looking dangerous, no doubt. As for our Storm, who just took a tough 70-92 loss to the Dallas Wings, they’ve got to figure out how to navigate a league where teams like Minnesota are building absolute juggernauts. What a season this is already becoming!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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