Napheesa Collier absolutely went off for 24 points and 10 rebounds against our Seattle Storm on Wednesday, leading the first-place Minnesota Lynx to an 86-76 victory. Let’s be real, everyone knew Collier was coming back from injury, but nobody, not even her own coach, expected *this* kind of dominant performance in her season debut. It was a brutal reminder of what the league’s best can do.
The Queen Didn’t Just Return, She Reignited
Coach Cheryl Reeve had everyone preaching “tempered expectations” for Collier, even saying this wasn’t “full tilt” and we still had “a couple more steps” to see the “Phee we know her to be.” Well, if that’s true, the rest of the WNBA is in serious trouble. Collier, fresh off tearing three ligaments in her left ankle and a muscle in her left shin last September, needed a WNBA record-low 22 minutes to put up a 24-point, 10-rebound game. She started a bit slow, missing six of her first seven shots, but then absolutely caught fire, going 9 of 13 after that. In the clutch, she was unstoppable. With just over a minute left, she got fouled on a three-pointer, sank all three free throws to push the Lynx lead to four, then scored inside to effectively seal the win. Talk about a nightmare for our Storm!
From Injury Battle to League Dominance
This kind of return isn’t just luck. Collier averaged a ridiculous 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks last season, shooting 53.1% from the field and 40.3% from deep. She was an MVP favorite until an ankle injury sidelined her in early August, ending up as runner-up to A’ja Wilson for the second straight season, and earning All-WNBA and All-Defensive First Team honors. After undergoing surgery on both ankles this offseason, she joked about “fighting” doctors to get back. But Collier says she’s learned to embrace the recovery process. She talked about how “everything happens for a reason” and how you “can’t control that I was injured” but “can control my mindset.” She focused on crushing rehab, being a good teammate, and supporting the squad. The Lynx, by the way, have been doing surprisingly well without her. They’re sitting in first place with a 22-6 record, riding a seven-game win streak, holding a two-and-a-half game lead on both the Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Valkyries.
What does Collier’s explosive return mean for the rest of the WNBA, and for our Storm after feeling her wrath firsthand? It means every team needs to step up their game, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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