The Lynx spent $1.4 million to bring back Napheesa Collier on a one-year deal, exciting fans but raising questions about the short-term contract, which she recently addressed openly.

In a clip shared by reporter Andrew Dukowitz from a Friday interview at the Lynx practice facility in Minneapolis, Napheesa Collier offered insight into her mindset moving forward.

"I’m so focused on right now with my injury and this year winning a championship. That's what I am doing. So getting back with our amazing staff, playing with our amazing players, I’m just focused on this year and winning," the 29-year-old stated.

From her comments, it’s clear Napheesa Collier is aiming to match last season’s performance, where she posted career highs of 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting efficiently across the board.

However, things are a bit different this time around. Napheesa Collier is recovering from ankle surgery after a collision with Alyssa Thomas, and she is expected to miss the start of the season as the team takes a cautious approach to her return.

Still, Collier sounded optimistic during Friday’s press conference. "Everything is going well, so you'll see me soon," the two-time Olympic gold medalist added.

Collier signed a one-year deal to stay flexible ahead of an expected salary cap rise next offseason.

So, with her return timeline still unclear, one concern is how the Lynx will manage without her early on.

Minnesota Lynx Roster Depth in Spotlight With Napheesa Collier Injured

Napheesa Collier isn’t going anywhere, as the Minnesota Lynx have secured her for another year. But there’s a small catch.

She’s still recovering from ankle surgery, so Minnesota will start the season not at full strength. Still, the team has enough depth to hold things down. With Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams back leading the backcourt, and Natasha Howard adding experience and defense up front, the Lynx have a balanced core.

A notable addition comes from the draft, where Minnesota picked up Olivia Miles at No. 2. She gives them a guard who can create offense on her own. With Kayla McBride’s shooting, Courtney Williams’ attacking, and Napheesa Collier returning, this team has many offensive options to turn to.

An early look at the team's dynamics will be on May 10, when the Minnesota Lynx open their 2026 season against the Atlanta Dream in a tone-setting matchup.

That said, do you think the Lynx roster is strong enough to keep them in contention until Collier returns?

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Siddharth Rawat