Is Napheesa Collier making season debut after injury absence? Sparks vs. Lynx injury report

The Minnesota Lynx will once again be without Napheesa Collier when they host the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, though the All-Star forward continues to move closer to her long-awaited season debut.

Collier is officially listed as out on the WNBA’s injury report with a left ankle injury. The Sparks, meanwhile, will be without Kelsey Plum, while Cameron Brink is listed as questionable with a left ankle injury.

Here’s everything to know about Collier’s status entering Wednesday’s game.

Napheesa Collier injury status vs. Sparks

Collier has yet to make her 2026 debut after undergoing offseason surgeries on both ankles. While she recently returned to practice, the Lynx have continued to take a cautious approach with one of the league’s top players.

Following Minnesota’s win over the New York Liberty on July 12, coach Cheryl Reeve said Collier’s return was nearing, though she did not give a firm timeline.

“You don’t know what the game situations are going to bring, and so it’s going to be a little bit of feeling it out, trial and error,” Reeve had said. “I don’t have a date for you as to when, but obviously she’s getting really close.”

Reeve also made it clear that Minnesota still views Collier as the team’s centerpiece despite the emergence of rookie Olivia Miles and the club’s success without her.

“With regard to her (return), it’s still Phee’s team,” Reeve said. “There is not anybody that walks into the gym that doesn’t know that it’s still Phee’s team. What’s great is (Courtney Williams) and (Kayla McBride), they’re very happy to declare that it’s Phee’s team.”

The Lynx enter Wednesday’s game coming off a 104-100 comeback win over the Phoenix Mercury, led by Kayla McBride’s 37-point performance and another standout game from Miles.

Lynx injury report

Napheesa Collier (Out, left ankle)
Emma Cechova (Out, right knee)
Dorka Juhasz (Questionable, right knee)

Sparks injury report

Kelsey Plum (Out, left lower leg)
Cameron Brink (Questionable, left ankle)

So, when it comes to the question of whether Napheesa Collier is playing Wednesday against the Sparks, the answer is no. Although Reeve recently said the All-Star forward is “getting really close,” Minnesota will continue to wait before activating its franchise star.

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