Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier co-founded Unrivaled last year. While Collier won the inaugural competition, the now 3v3 league has since grown financially and has welcomed two new clubs. But for the second season, Phee will not be the one driving it on the court, after undergoing surgery on both of her ankles.

Operated on by Dr Martin O Malley in New York City in the first week of January. “A joint team of medical staff determined that surgery on both left and right ankles would be necessary,” she announced in a press release.

This simply means she will now be out of competition for the next four to six months, and will miss the entire Unrivaled season alongside the beginning of the WNBA season. The Lunar Owls will add Temi Fagbenle to fill her spot. 

Undoubtedly, this is a major setback. Phee sprained her right ankle during an August 2 game against the LV Aces. Then, she was sidelined for multiple weeks. Later, she returned to the floor and played in seven of the Lynx’s final eight games of the season. 

She averaged 20.4 points, enough to finish with the league’s second-ever 50/40/90 season. However, when the Lynx met the Mercury in the 2025 WNBA semifinals, she tore multiple ligaments in her left ankle. 

Ever since, her goal was to rehab aggressively, recover within three months, and be ready by the time the Unrivaled season tipped off.

“I did not need surgery,” she said during Unrivaled’s December 16 media day. “I am still working to get back to 100%, but I have been doing my rehab every day. It’s gotten way, way better, so I’m just taking it every day at a time and I’m excited to get back out there.”

But that plan did not work, clearly. Still…

Napheesa Collier Hasn’t Lost Hope.

Once again, the process will be similar for her. She will work relentlessly to get back on the court as early as possible. As she shared on Instagram, “I will be back at full strength as soon as possible and ready to continue where I left off, but for now, it’s still and always will be… HootieHoooooo!”

Now, she is expected to make her return sometime in June this season. Until then, she remains involved off the court, including working with the players’ union to negotiate a new CBA.

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Joyita Das