At 28-5, the Minnesota Lynx could not have asked for a better position. They are firmly in control and inching toward clinching the No. 1 seed for the postseason. In a league where winning at this rate is rare, the Lynx have once again proven their quality of depth despite Phee’s absence.
A sprained right ankle has forced her to the sidelines, leaving her out of action for the past four games. For many teams, losing an MVP-caliber star at this stage of the season could have spelled trouble.
Rather than stumbling, Minnesota has continued its winning streak with 9 wins in the last 10 games. Courtney Williams has elevated her playmaking, Alanna Smith has anchored the defense with poise, and the bench has delivered timely scoring. But the one person who is receiving all the praise is the Minnesota Lynx head coach, Cheryl Reeve. National reporter Lolo Byke recently framed the debate on X: “Does Minnesota playing well w/o Phee hurt her MVP case or does it strengthen Cheryl’s COY chances more?”
Does Minnesota playing well w/o Phee hurt her MVP case or does it strengthen Cheryl’s COY chances more?
— Lo (@LoLoByke) August 16, 2025
The post sparked mixed reactions online, though most fans and analysts leaned toward the latter. Reeve, at the helm since 2009, already holds the franchise record in total wins and winning percentage. She also has the highest winning percentage in WNBA history, a record that continued into the 2025 season. Reeve is a strong contender to win 2025 COY alongside the likes of Karl Smesko and Natalie Nakase.
But Reeve’s success also complicates the MVP race. If the Lynx can keep winning without Phee, does it weaken her case? Currently, Collier remains one of the clear favorites alongside A’ja Wilson and Alyssa Thomas. Napheesa averages 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, shoots 53.7% from the field, and adds 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Her two-way dominance anchors Minnesota’s top-rated offense (87.0 PPG) and stingiest defense (75.8 OPPG). It’s no surprise sportsbooks peg her with an 80% chance to win MVP, even factoring in injury risk.
Still, the Lynx’s sustained excellence in her absence offers a counterbalance. Byke may have asked this as a question, but the fact remains that the longer Phee is injured, the less chance she has of winning the MVP title. However, the Lynx center might be looking at a return to the hardwood.
The longer Napheesa Collier sits out, the more her MVP chances decline
Her biggest challenger is reigning MVP A’ja Wilson, who has delivered historic performances. Wilson ranks among the top five in nearly every major WNBA leaderboard and is delivering historic performances. On August 10, she became the first player ever to record a 30-point, 20-rebound double-double, finishing with 32 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Her consistency has been equally remarkable. Over her last seven games, Wilson has averaged 22.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks. She earned a third Western Conference Player of the Week award this season. With Wilson surging, Collier’s absence has clearly dented her MVP chances. The betting odds even suggest that if Collier misses additional games, Alyssa Thomas would be the one to climb ahead of her in the race before A’ja Wilson does.
Jul 30, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) dribbles against the New York Liberty in the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Still, there is optimism for Lynx fans. Reeve provided a positive update on Collier’s recovery: “The Lynx don’t have an established return to play date for Napheesa Collier yet. Collier is progressing well and remains on track to return at some point before the end of the regular season.” While she missed the recent clash with New York, Collier is expected to return with around 10 games left to play.
The post Cheryl Reeve’s Success Forces Tough WNBA Dilemma Centered on Napheesa Collier Injury, Asks Reporter appeared first on EssentiallySports.