Ankle surgery sidelines star Napheesa Collier for Unrivaled season. A specialist will perform the procedure, delaying her return to the court for months.
Napheesa Collier’s offseason plans have been abruptly reset after additional medical evaluations revealed surgery was unavoidable, sidelining one of the WNBA’s top stars for several months and removing her from the upcoming Unrivaled season.
Collier will undergo surgical procedures on both ankles in the first week of January, a development that is expected to keep her out four to six months, according to league officials. The surgeries will be performed in New York City by Dr. Martin O’Malley, a specialist frequently consulted by elite basketball players, sources said.
The decision marks a significant turn after Collier had expressed optimism late last month about avoiding surgery and being ready for the start of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s league she co-founded with Breanna Stewart. During a virtual media availability on Dec. 16, Collier said her rehabilitation was progressing and that she anticipated being healthy enough to play by January.
That outlook changed following further consultations involving a joint medical team connected to both Unrivaled and her WNBA club, the Minnesota Lynx. According to sources familiar with the process, doctors determined Collier’s recovery had plateaued and should have advanced further at this stage, prompting the recommendation for surgical intervention on both ankles.
Collier’s ankle issues trace back to a punishing WNBA season. On Aug. 2, she suffered a right ankle sprain against the Las Vegas Aces that sidelined her for roughly three weeks. At the time, Collier was widely viewed as the front-runner for league MVP before ultimately finishing second—once again—to Aces star A'ja Wilson.
Her season took a more severe turn in September during the WNBA semifinals. In Game 3 against the Phoenix Mercury, Collier tore three ligaments in her left ankle. Minnesota, the top seed, was swept in the series, ending a title run that had positioned Collier as one of the league’s most dominant two-way players.
Despite the disappointment of missing Unrivaled’s second season, sources said Collier views the surgery as a necessary step after months of stalled rehabilitation.
Those close to her said she is frustrated by the timing but relieved to have a clear medical plan moving forward, prioritizing long-term health over a rushed return.
Unrivaled announced that Temi Fagbenle will replace Collier on the Lunar Owls BC roster. Fagbenle, currently with the Golden State Valkyries, has been signed to a multiyear contract with the league and will step into Collier’s spot for the 2026 season.
The league confirmed that, after exhausting all non-surgical rehabilitation options during the preseason process, medical staff unanimously agreed surgery was the best path forward. Collier is expected to make a full recovery within the projected four-to-six-month window, placing her return sometime late spring or early summer.
For now, one of the faces of Unrivaled—and one of the WNBA’s premier stars—will watch from the sidelines as she begins the next phase of recovery.