The Phoenix Mercury did it again. Winning the game with a strong fourth-quarter performance. They outscored the Minnesota Lynx by 12 points in the game’s final phase. However, the Game 3 loss would be even more concerning for the league leaders following the injury to their star player, Napheesa Collier.
While earlier in the series, Alyssa Thomas playfully dealt with the defending Collier question, the play that injured the former UConn star was very rough. The Lynx HC, Cheryl Reeve, charged towards an on-court referee. She received a technical foul and was sent off.
Napheesa Collier Suffers Brutal Injury Following Collision With Alyssa Thomas
Ahead of Game 3, Alyssa Thomas warned her that the Phoenix Mercury would need a strong reply from the Lynx. The visitors did the same, outperforming the Mercury team in every department of the game. But in the fourth quarter, the hosts upped their tempo and, behind team defense, held the Lynx below 10 points.
The Lynx still had a chance with 27 seconds left in the game. Collier inbounded the ball and got it back from Natisha Heideman as she was getting to her spot. AT quickly took her chance and snapped the ball out of Phee’s hands.
Having won the ball cleanly, the Mercury defender went to get the loose ball, and that’s where she collided with Collier’s ‘pivot’ leg. The impact was so bad that the 28-year-old forward fell on the floor, rolling her ankle.
She just ran right through her fucking leg! Y’all kill me with ts pic.twitter.com/lVVuLvUUu4 https://t.co/f7RtC0RYuZ
— ❀ (@kayinterrupted) September 27, 2025
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Thomas took the open layup to extend the lead to 82-76, nearly finishing off the game. While the Lynx’s leading scorer will go through medical checkups, initial assessments suggest that she might have fractured her ankle, keeping her out for the rest of the season.
Cheryl Reeve Blasts WNBA For Napheesa Collier’s Injury
There were some fiery reactions expected form the Lynx HC after her angry reaction on the court. She remained calm yet criticized the league for the physical plays allowed in games.
“This is the look that our league wants, for some reason. We were trying to play through it, we tried not to make excuses. One of the best players in the league [Collier] shot zero free throws. Zero, and she had five fouls. Zero free throws. Got her shoulder pulled out and finished the game with her leg being taken out, and probably has a fracture,” Reeves said in a postgame interview.
– “This is the look our league wants.. for some reason”
— Rachel A DeMita (@RADeMita) September 27, 2025
– Napheesa Collier “probably has a fracture”
– Calls for a change in leadership at the league level
– refs that were chosen for Semi-Finals Game 3 = “f’ing malpractice”
Cheryl Reeve 🫡pic.twitter.com/go9NUN5bFa
The Mercury has a chance to advance to the WNBA final with a win at the PHX arena on September 28. And if Collier misses the ‘decider’, it would be dreadful end to the Lynx’s excellent season.