Sources: Collier back to Lynx on supermax deal

Napheesa Collier is signing a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract to return to the Minnesota Lynx, sources told ESPN.

She is the third player in the WNBA to sign a supermax deal, along with Kelsey Mitchell, who signed a one-year deal with the Indiana Fever, and A’ja Wilson, who signed a historic three-year deal with the Las Vegas Aces.

Collier will be an unrestricted free agent — and, under the new collective bargaining agreement, unable to be “cored” — in 2027. A core qualifying offer is akin to the NFL’s franchise tag.

Collier finished second in MVP voting in 2025 for a second straight year after averaging 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Lynx and becoming the second player in league history to finish a regular season with a 50-40-90 shooting split.

Collier, 29, shot 53.1% from the floor, 40.3% from 3-point range and 90.6% from the free throw line while averaging over 20 points — the first player to accomplish such a feat.

Collier’s MVP campaign slowed in August when she missed seven games because of a right ankle injury. She then injured her left ankle in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals, ending her season.

Despite having the best regular-season record, the Lynx went on to lose that semifinal series against the Phoenix Mercury in five games. In January, Unrivaled announced Collier would be sidelined for four to six months after requiring surgery on both her left and right ankles.

While Collier is expected to miss time at the start of the season, her return to Minnesota ensures the Lynx retain their best player after losing a number of key contributors. Bridget Carleton was taken by the Portland Fire in the expansion draft, and Natisha Hiedeman, Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith and DiJonai Carrington all left in free agency. The team re-signed Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride, and selected Olivia Miles with the No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft on Monday.

ESPN’s Alexa Philippou contributed to this report.