This season couldn’t be any worse for the Minnesota Lynx. After Naphseesa Collier was ruled out for crucial Game 4, Cheryl Reever followed suit with one one-game suspension.
While the league is moving towards a crucial last leg of the season, the collective gasp from Lynx fans is almost apparent. With two big names down for the next game, the Phoenix Mercury now have a golden chance to storm the WNBA Finals.
Napheesa Collier, Cheryl Reeve’s Absence Might Hurt Minnesota Lynx Against Mercury
The Lynx’s Game 3 meltdown flowed straight into their biggest nightmare. Although the situation worsened with Collier’s injury and Reeve’s suspension, stripping them of their top talent and tactical brain for a must-win on the road.
Reeve was ejected with 21.8 seconds left after storming the court over a no-call on Alyssa Thomas’s steal from Collier. Not one to back down on anything, Reever unloaded a fiery rant over the refs in her post-game presser.
Minnesota finished Game 3 without Napheesa Collier or Coach Cheryl Reeve.
— espnW (@espnW) September 27, 2025
Coach was assessed a second technical foul and ejected after Collier collided with Alyssa Thomas on this play. pic.twitter.com/6ZNGuUSXi9
However, the top-seeded Lynx, reeling from an 84-76 Game 3 loss on September 26, now face elimination in Game 4 without their MVP runner-up and head coach, putting the Mercury one win from their first Finals trip since 2021.
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The Lynx, who dominated the regular season with a 33-10 record, blew a 20-point Game 2 lead and now trail 2-1 after Game 3’s chaos at PHX Arena. However, Collier’s apparent ankle fracture and Reeve’s one-game suspension for her post-ejection tirade leave associate head coach Eric Thibault in charge for Sunday’s do-or-die matchup.
Napheesa Collier’s Injury Gets Concerning Update
With a daunting task waiting for the Lynx in Game 4, Napheesa Collier’s injury has escalated concerns for Minnesota as they face a critical moment in their WNBA playoff semifinal series against the Mercury.
However, after dropping Game 3, the Lynx are now down 2-1 in the best-of-five series, putting them on the brink of elimination. Collier suffered an apparent left ankle injury in the closing seconds of the game, and head coach Cheryl Reeve indicated that she “probably has a fracture.”
This development raises serious doubts about her availability for the crucial Game 4, scheduled for Sunday. Chronically dealing with injuries, Collier had previously endured a right ankle sprain that sidelined her for seven games earlier in the season.