Napheesa Collier is set to return to the Minnesota Lynx with a one-year supermax contract worth $1.4 million, according to sources at ESPN. This makes her one of only three WNBA players to sign such a lucrative deal, joining Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.
At just 29, Collier has already made her mark in the league. She finished second in MVP voting for the second consecutive year in 2025, averaging 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Amazingly, she became only the second player in WNBA history to end a regular season with a shooting split of 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line.
However, injuries have hampered her recent success. In August, she missed seven games due to a right ankle injury. Unfortunately, she injured her left ankle during Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals, which cut her season short. Despite having the best record in the regular season, the Lynx lost to the Phoenix Mercury in that semifinal series.
Looking ahead, Collier will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, under the new collective bargaining agreement that prevents her from being “cored,” similar to the NFL’s franchise tag.
Her return comes at a crucial time for the Lynx. The team has faced significant turnover, losing key players like Bridget Carleton to the Portland Fire and others to free agency. They did manage to re-sign Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride, along with selecting Olivia Miles with the second overall pick in the recent WNBA draft.
As fans look forward to the next season, Collier’s commitment ensures the Lynx hold onto their star player, even as they navigate a changing roster.
In the larger context of women’s sports, the growing number of supermax contracts highlights the rising recognition and value of female athletes, something that experts see as a significant step towards equity in sports. According to a 2022 study by Deloitte, the global women’s sports market could be worth over $1 billion by the end of this decade, emphasizing the increasing investment in women’s sports leagues like the WNBA.
This evolving landscape shows just how far women’s sports have come and how bright the future looks for athletes like Collier.
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