The Rest of the League Was Warned: Napheesa Collier’s Return Makes the Lynx Unstoppable

The Minnesota Lynx spent the first two months of the 2026 WNBA season doing something remarkable: they dominated the league without their best player.

At 21–6, owning the WNBA’s highest net rating (+10.2) and riding high atop the standings, Minnesota has already looked every bit like a title contender. But as five-time All-Star and two-time MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier prepares to make her 2026 regular-season debut following offseason dual ankle surgeries, the message to the rest of the league is clear: the best team in basketball just got a whole lot better.

Dominating Without Their Anchor

When Collier went down with an ankle injury during last year’s playoffs—subsequently undergoing procedures on both ankles in March—many questioned how Minnesota would stay afloat during the initial stretch of the 2026 campaign.

Instead of treading water, head coach Cheryl Reeve’s squad soared. Veteran guard Kayla McBride continued her blistering perimeter shooting, and the defense held firm. But the primary catalyst for Minnesota’s league-leading start has been rookie phenom Olivia Miles.

“She’s playing unbelievable basketball. She’s playing with such confidence, you wouldn’t even know that she’s a rookie.” — Teresa Weatherspoon on Olivia Miles

Selected second overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Miles hasn’t just exceeded expectations—she has rewritten the rookie record book. Averaging nearly 20 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds per game, Miles became the only rookie voted in as an All-Star starter this season, vaulting herself straight into the MVP conversation alongside the league’s established superstars.

The Ultimate Dynamic Duo: Collier x Miles

What happens when you pair a transcendent rookie point guard with one of the most complete two-way forwards in women’s basketball history?

You get an offensive system that is virtually impossible to scheme against.

Miles’ ability to collapse defenses and throw pinpoint passes complements Collier’s elite off-ball movement, midrange precision, and interior finishing. Earlier in the season, opponents could tilt their defensive coverage toward Miles on pick-and-roll action. With Collier on the floor, doing so will leave a 23-point-per-game scorer wide open in her favorite spots.

In practice, the chemistry between the two has already begun to crystallize. Collier’s veteran wisdom and vocal leadership provide Miles with a trusted floor general counterpart, easing the pressure on the young rookie during crucial high-stakes possessions.

Firmly the Favorite for the 2026 WNBA Title

The return of “Phee” isn’t just about adding points; it completely alters Minnesota’s ceiling.

1. Defensive Lockdown: Collier, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, gives Minnesota an elite rim protector and switchable defender to plug into an already formidable rotation.
2. Lineup Versatility: Coach Reeve can now rotate fresh frontcourt bodies without sacrificing floor spacing or defensive intensity.
3. Championship Pedigree: Collier brings invaluable playoff experience and poise to a locker room eager to finish what they started last fall.

While rivals across the league spent the early summer hoping Minnesota’s hot start was an unsustainable fluke, Collier’s clean bill of health locks the Lynx firmly into the #1 spot and title favorite status for the 2026 WNBA Championship.

If the Lynx were this dangerous with their MVP runner-up watching from the bench, the rest of the league has officially been put on notice.