Overview
- The Lynx were swept in the first round by the New York Liberty in a shock exit that has prompted immediate questions about the roster and future plans.
- Collier, a five‑time All‑Star and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, is entering unrestricted free agency and has not publicly decided whether she will re‑sign with Minnesota.
- She missed significant time in 2026 after surgery on both ankles and was limited to 16 regular‑season games, a factor both she and other teams will weigh in free‑agency talks.
- Coach and president Cheryl Reeve publicly said she will respect whatever Collier decides, while teammates have urged Collier to ‘choose her,’ and analysts say Collier may now weigh leaving because she never previously had full unrestricted choice.
- Collier signed a one‑year $1.4 million supermax under the new CBA in April 2026, a contract and market context that make her decision consequential for the Lynx’s roster moves and for other teams watching the upcoming free‑agent cycle.