The Minnesota Lynx extended a core qualifying offer to napheesa collier as the club moves to lock in its franchise centerpiece, the team announced via ESPN. The same ESPN report noted she underwent bilateral ankle surgery and faces a four to six month recovery window.
At the same time, the Lynx added veteran continuity, agreeing to a two year, $2.4 million contract with guard Courtney Williams, as reported by ESPN's Alexa Philippou. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported guard Kayla McBride and forward Natasha Howard also signed two year deals, moves the front office framed as a start toward reloading around Collier.
The roster group now under contract for the 2026 season includes Napheesa Collier, Dorka Juhász, Natasha Howard, Anastasiia Olari Kosu, Kayla McBride, Jaylen Sherrod, and Courtney Williams, according to the team update. The Lynx have acknowledged they could not retain every veteran in free agency, with several players leaving and one being taken in the expansion draft.
Collier Status And Team Outlook
Collier remains the Lynx focal point on and off the court, with a career that includes multiple All Star selections and major defensive honors, as listed in her public biography. As reported by ESPN, she averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and strong two way production during her most recent full regular season, establishing her as the clear leader for Minnesota once healthy.
Her biography records a string of postseason and international accomplishments, including high scoring playoff runs, All WNBA recognitions, defensive awards, Olympic gold medals and club championships overseas. Collier also co founded the Unrivaled basketball league and earned individual MVP honors there, details that underscore her profile beyond WNBA play.
With Collier rehabbing from surgery, ESPN projected she is slated to receive a one year supermax deal and to return to a leading role when cleared. The Lynx used the core designation to preserve roster control, leaving coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve to balance salary cap constraints while keeping spacing and veteran experience around Collier.
