Napheesa Collier shines in return from injury as Lynx defeat Fever 97-84

Jim Souhan, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Aug 24, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Lynx continued their push for the top seed in the WNBA playoffs, and Napheesa Collier returned from an ankle injury to continue her campaign for the league’s MVP award on Sunday night at Target Center.

The two pursuits once again aligned nicely. Collier looked healthy and rust-free while scoring 32 points on 11-for-16 shooting in the Lynx’s 97-84 victory over the Indiana Fever.

Collier received a loud ovation when announced with the starters before the game, and she was efficient from the start, making five of her first six shots.

She hadn’t played since Aug. 2 because of an injury suffered during a collision with teammate Alanna Smith in the third quarter of a blowout victory at Las Vegas.

Perhaps more surprising was that reserve center Maria Kliundikova was the driving force behind the Lynx’s big second quarter. In eight first-half minutes, Kliundikova produced 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, with a rebound and an assist.

Point guard Courtney Williams set the Lynx all-time single-season assist record with a deft pass to Kliundikova in the second quarter. Lindsay Whalen, now a Lynx assistant, set the record of 199 in 2011, the year the Lynx won their first WNBA title.

Before the game, coach Cheryl Reeve said she wanted to see improved defense. The Fever, again playing without the injured Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, took a first-quarter lead as guard Kelsey Mitchell and center Aliyah Boston found scoring easy.

The Lynx defense began clamping down on the stars in the second quarter.

Late in the third quarter, Lynx forward Jess Shepard hit Mitchell in the face with her elbow, prompting an official review. Shepard was called for a flagrant one foul, resulting in Mitchell getting two free throws and the Fever retaining possession.

There were a numbers of elbows making contact with faces throughout the game. Collier came out of the game unscathed, having made another argument for herself in the MVP race.

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