The Minnesota Lynx just locked in their cornerstone. After drafting Olivia Miles, the franchise finalized a record-breaking supermax deal for Napheesa Collier.

According to Kendra Andrews of ESPN, Napheesa Collier signed a one-year supermax deal worth $1.4 million with the Minnesota Lynx.

With that, Collier becomes just the third player in the WNBA to land a supermax contract, joining Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever and A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.

Collier was widely expected to command a maximum salary. Still, even on a supermax contract, the team cannot designate her as a core player, meaning she will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2027 season.

Her return will be closely watched after Napheesa Collier’s MVP-level season was cut short by a serious ankle injury in Game 3 against the Phoenix Mercury following a collision with Alyssa Thomas.

She also missed Game 4 and later underwent surgery in January, which also forced her to sit out the second season of Unrivaled, the 3x3 league she co-founded with Breanna Stewart. Minnesota eventually lost the series in five games.

The five-time All-Star remains the organization's central piece despite her recent injury setback.

Last season was her best yet, as she played 33 games and averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, leading the Minnesota Lynx to a 34–10 record, the best in the West, while finishing second in MVP voting and fifth in Defensive Player of the Year.

With her future in Minnesota now secured, the real question is how Collier’s return will shape the Lynx’s season.

Napheesa Collier's Comeback is Everything for the Minnesota Lynx

“Phee has been such an integral part of the Minnesota Lynx since she was drafted in 2019," said head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve in a team statement after bringing Napheesa Collier back.

“Coming off a historic 50/40/90 season and guiding the Lynx to the most wins in franchise history, Phee is hungry to position the Lynx for a championship run in 2026,” the 59-year-old added.

However, keeping her injury in mind, it’s still unclear if Napheesa Collier will be ready for the May 8 start of the 2026 season, with ESPN reporting a possible return between next month and July.

Napheesa Collier was invited to Team USA’s training camp in Phoenix earlier this month but didn’t participate, and was later seen in a walking boot during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four.

What do you think about Napheesa's comeback potential this season?

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Utsav Gupta