Collier Returns With 24 as Lynx Beat Storm Before WNBA All-Star Break

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

Napheesa Collier returned to the Minnesota Lynx lineup with 24 points and 10 rebounds in an 86-76 win over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday afternoon, according to Yahoo Sports. It was Collier's season debut after she tore ligaments in her left ankle in a playoff game last September and had surgery on both ankles in the offseason.

The result sends Minnesota into the WNBA All-Star break with the best record in the league. Kayla McBride added 20 points, giving the Lynx a second major scoring pillar on a day when the headline was naturally Collier's return and immediate production.

Game swing:

The decisive late sequence came after Seattle had cut the margin to 77-76 with 1:42 remaining. Collier was fouled on a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock was running out and made all three free throws. That pushed Minnesota back out in front at a critical moment and helped stabilize a game that had tightened sharply.

Collier shot 9 for 20, made two 3-pointers, and played 24 minutes. Those numbers are important because they show both impact and restraint. Minnesota got star-level production, but the minutes total suggests a return still being managed rather than a full regular workload being assumed immediately.

Why it matters:

This is a major standings and roster signal for the Lynx. They already reached the break with the league's best record; adding back last season's WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and MVP runner-up changes the ceiling of an already leading team. The source does not say Minnesota is fully healthy or that Collier is back to peak condition, but a 24-point, 10-rebound debut is a strong first data point.

For Seattle, the narrow late deficit matters even in defeat. The Storm were within one possession inside the final two minutes before Collier's three free throws shifted the pressure back. The final margin was 10, but the key competitive detail is that Seattle had the game at 77-76 late and could not finish the swing.

Tournament impact:

The All-Star break creates a natural reset point. Minnesota enters it not merely leading the league but doing so with its franchise-level two-way star back on the court. That affects playoff projections, matchup planning, and the way opponents prepare for the second half. A Lynx team that was already setting the pace now has a returning player who can decide late possessions on both production and foul pressure.

What to watch:

Collier's minutes, ankle response, and defensive workload will be the key follow-up markers. The box score confirms immediate scoring and rebounding impact, but the more important question is whether Minnesota can increase her role without disrupting what already made the team the league leader.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: Minnesota beat Seattle 86-76, Collier had 24 points and 10 rebounds in her season debut, McBride scored 20, and the Lynx reached the All-Star break with the WNBA's best record. Still needing follow-up: Minnesota's post-break rotation plan, Collier's ongoing minutes management, and any updated medical status beyond the reported offseason surgeries.