Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

WNBA MVP Candidate Receives Unfortunate News on Tuesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Beren | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 2:51 PM ET

The Minnesota Lynx looked a bit different in Saturday's 82-66 home win over the Los Angeles Sparks. Nursing a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Lynx did end up pulling away from the lowly Sparks to improve to a WNBA-best 12-1 - but Minnesota missed the presence of Napheesa Collier in its bid to hold off Los Angeles.

Collier is the current betting favorite to win WNBA MVP. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is averaging a league-best 24.2 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range. The former UConn star is also averaging 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks, signifying her unique all-around importance to the Lynx.

However, Collier on Tuesday will miss her second successive game due to a lower back injury she sustained on June 17 against the Las Vegas Aces. In that 76-62 Commissioner's Cup victory, Collier dropped seven points and six rebounds in 19 minutes before exiting.

Napheesa Collier will not play tomorrow against the Mystics as she deals with a lower back injury, the Lynx announce. Collier exited the Lynx’s June 17 game against the Aces early and missed last game against the Sparks with this back issue.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) June 24, 2025

Collier participated in shootaround on Tuesday, but the Lynx are exercising caution with their franchise player. She will rest when the Lynx play the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.

The Mystics game marks the start of a quick two-game road trip for the Lynx, which will wrap up Friday in Atlanta against the Dream.

Minnesota has a two-game lead over the red-hot Phoenix Mercury for first place in the Western Conference, an advantage that could be whittled down in Washington on Tuesday.

Led by rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, the rebuilding Mystics sit only a half-game out of the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot with a 6-8 record.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: