Five-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier scored 24 points in her season debut as the visiting Minnesota Lynx defeated the host Seattle Storm 86-76 on Wednesday afternoon.
The seventh consecutive win for the Lynx (22-6) marked the first time Collier had played in nearly 10 months. The former WNBA Defensive Player of the Year had surgery on both ankles after being injured in Game 3 of the semifinals of last year’s playoffs. Last season, Collier was the second player in WNBA history to shoot at least 50% from the floor, 40% from 3-point land and 90% from the free-throw line, joining Hall of Famer Elena Delle Donne in the exclusive 50-40-90 club.
Collier also had 10 rebounds in 22 minutes of play. Before the game, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said Collier would be on a minutes restriction.
“This is not a full tilt,” Reeve said. “We still have a couple more steps to go before we see the ‘Phee’ we know her to be.”
Minnesota also received 20 points from Kayla McBride, 13 points and six assists from rookie sensation Olivia Miles and 11 points from Natasha Howard in the win.
Dominique Malonga led Seattle (6-23) with 21 points and nine rebounds. Awa Fam had 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Flau’jae Johnson chipped in 16 points in the sixth consecutive loss for the Storm.
Collier scored her first points of the season with less than three minutes to play in the first quarter when she received a bounce pass from Courtney Williams along the perimeter, then swished a one-dribble pull-up jumper from mid-range. She shot just 1 of 6 from the floor in the first quarter before shaking off the rust and knocking down 4 of 6 shots in the second quarter.
Seattle built a six-point lead early and still had a one-point advantage at halftime before the Lynx outscored the Storm 24-15 in the third quarter. The Lynx scored 19 points off 19 turnovers by the Storm. Minnesota also shot 39.1% (9 of 23) from beyond the arc, while Seattle was held to 15.6% (5 of 32) from 3-point land.
–Field Level Media
