New WNBA Trade Rumors on Napheesa Collier's Lynx Future Ahead of Deadline

Minnesota Lynx superstar forward Napheesa Collier, who is on an expiring contract, is expected to remain with the team for the rest of this season.

ESPN's Alexa Philippou provided that report on SportsCenter on Friday as the league's trade deadline of Sunday at 3 p.m. ET approaches (1:15 mark).

"Napheesa Collier is a player that a lot of people were interested in," Philippou said.

"Would she end up moving because of those rumblings about maybe her wanting to look elsewhere, her being on an expiring contract. Around the league people are saying they think she will be in Minnesota for the rest of this season. Minnesota obviously a team that is a championship contender, someone who with Napheesa Collier could very well win that title."

Collier signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract with the Lynx last offseason. She has made the All-WNBA First Team each of the past three seasons and finished as the league's MVP runner-up in 2024 and 2025. In addition, Collier won Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024.

Over a dominant three-year stretch (2023-2025), Collier averaged 21.6 points on 50.1 percent shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

Minnesota was fantastic over 2024 and 2025, finishing first in the WNBA standings each year and going 64-20 overall. The Lynx reached the WNBA Finals in 2024 and the league semifinals in 2025.

In Game 3 of the 2025 semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury, Collier suffered a Grade 2 tear of three ligaments in her ankle and a muscle in her shin following a collision with Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

Collier had surgery on her right ankle in January and her left ankle on March 24, per ESPN's Kendra Andrews. She missed the Lynx's first 27 games of the season but returned on July 22 under a minutes restriction. Collier was fantastic in her 2026 debut, posting 24 points and 10 rebounds in just 22 minutes during an 86-76 win over the Seattle Storm.

This season, Collier has averaged 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals in just 23.0 minutes per game over three contests.

First-place Minnesota also holds a 24-6 record and entered Friday with a three-game lead on the second-place Las Vegas Aces.

It certainly makes sense for Minnesota to keep Collier aboard for this year and as many seasons as possible after 2026. In the meantime, the Lynx hope to continue their great success on Sunday at home vs. the Indiana Fever.