Napheesa Collier talked about having ‘FOMO’ when she was on the sidelines last year. Unfortunately, Collier has been on the sidelines since her tearful exit in Game 3 of the 2025 semifinals and has undergone two separate surgeries. Now, there’s light at the end of the tunnel as Collier starts team activities. 

The team announced that Napheesa Collier is back on the court and is progressing “as expected.” She has not played since the 2025 WNBA semifinals and will still take some time to make her 2026 debut. However, it’s not like the Lynx have struggled without her. The team is 15-4 and first in the standings. Now, Collier has revealed her goal is to make her season debut. 

“There are players that I haven’t played with before, so naturally there’s that learning curve. That’s why I’m in practice right now, so we can work out all those kinks. Thankfully, all of our players are team players, not “I” players,” Collier said in a clip posted by Zone Coverage’s Andrew Dukowitz. “They’re always easy to play with. They’re smart players. So far, it’s been really good. I’ve been able to watch them, so I have that leg up too. I can see how they play and adjust to that.”

The Lynx have been one of the most connected teams in the league so far with 21.3 assists per game. On paper, few expected them to be as good as they are, especially without Collier. Olivia Miles has stepped up for Cheryl Reeve, and moving to her natural position has helped Courtney Williams. Reeve would now be working on the Miles-Collier combination. If that clicks, this would elevate to another level. 

However, if they don’t take the time in forming that connection, Collier’s return could have the opposite effect. It risks breaking the momentum. Another reason is for the coaching staff to give Collier more time to gel with this team. And the goal for Collier is clear. 

“The goal coming into every season is to win a championship, and I feel like we have the pieces to do that,” Collier said. “[We want to be] hitting the ground running, making sure that we’re fitting in well with the team, that we’re adding to them, that we’re giving them a boost when they’re already doing so well.”

Natasha Howard filled Collier’s void in the frontcourt. At this point, she is second on the team in points per game (17.7) and the best rebounder with 8.8. Reeve will need to figure out how Collier and Howard could play together without diminishing the latter.

The team has been among the favorites to win the WNBA title for the past few seasons, and it’s no different this year. With Collier’s return imminent, Reeve needs to ensure this team doesn’t drop out of the race during the playoffs.