Lynx's Napheesa Collier Out with Ankle Injury for Must-Win Game 4 vs. Mercury

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier will miss Sunday's must-win Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury with a left ankle injury, the team announced Saturday.

Collier suffered the injury late in the Lynx's Friday night Game 3 loss to the Mercury. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said after the game that Collier "probably has a fracture."

The Lynx will now be without both Reeve, who was suspended for criticizing Game 3 officiating, as well as their top scorer when the semifinal continues on Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET in Phoenix.

Collier went down with the injury in the final 30 seconds of Thursday's loss after making contact with Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.

Reeve's reaction to the officiating on the play, as well as her postgame comments blaming officiants for creating a dangerous situation for players letting "physicality happen," let to her suspension by the WNBA.

The Mercury meanwhile claimed a 2-1 series lead and put the Lynx on the brink of elimination with the win.

Collier finished the regular season the 2025 WNBA MVP runner-up after leading the Lynx and ranking second in the league with 22.9 points per game.

She again paced her teammates by averaging 20.6 points and 6.8 rebounds through five playoff games.

When Collier missed seven games earlier this season with a right ankle injury, the Lynx went 5-2 in her absence.

But the Lynx were boosted over that stretch by the recent trade acquisition of DiJonai Carrington, who will also sit out Sunday's game with a left foot injury.

Minnesota may need big games from other bench players like Natisha Hiedeman and Maria Kliundikova in order to defeat the Mercury without their superstar.

Whichever team emerges from the best-of-five series will take on either the Las Vegas Aces or the Indiana Fever for a shot at the 2025 title. The Aces currently hold a 2-1 lead in their own semifinal series, which continues Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.