Who Must Step Up for the Minnesota Lynx After the Injury to a Former MIP Award Winner?
The Minnesota Lynx enter Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury while facing difficult changes after losing DiJonai Carrington to a mid-foot sprain in Game Two against the Golden State Valkyries. While the team did sweep the Valkyries to advance, Carrington’s absence has evidently reduced their scoring, defense, and perimeter versatility. In regular seasons, Carrington averaged 9.8 points, four rebounds, and 1.1 steals, which shows her ability to guard multiple positions and contribute to offensive plays was a key factor in the Lynx’s first-round success. The Lynx currently trail behind the Mercury 2-1 in the best-of-five series and must win Game Four to avoid elimination.
Adding to the misfortunes of Minnesota, Napheesa Collier, the team’s primary scoring and leading anchor, suffered an ankle injury on the final play of Game Three against the Mercury. Their coach, Cheryl Reeve, suggests that Collier “probably has a fracture” and shows further concern for Game Four. During the regular season, Collier averaged 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, but it will be unknown as to where she will stand in the next matchup. There’s still no official confirmation of a fracture from the Lynx, but her ability to drive, draw fouls, and create opportunities for the team was the key to the Lynx’s success, so this uncertainty puts their entire plan on the line. Though Kayla McBride can keep their momentum if she elevates her game, especially if Collier is out for the next few matchups. McBride averages 14.2 points per game, with her perimeter shooting and veteran presence being essential to spacing the floor and keeping up their offense. It’ll be crucial that her experience in late-game citations provides stability for the team in high-pressure environments, especially as the Lynx tries to avoid elimination.
Contributions from the guard rotation will be more important than ever before. Natisha Hiedeman, who scored 19 points in Game Three, has already shown she can provide those impactful scoring bursts that they need. Other bench players must strategically contribute to Hiedeman by maintaining defensive intensity, hitting open shots, and contributing to a fast offense when Collier is limited or out. The Lynx’s frontcourt rotation is smaller without Carrington and without Collier, so every player on the court must maximize their efficiency and limit turnovers to give Minnesota any chance to stay in the game.
Overall, Minnesota’s future now rides on the performance and availability of Collier and McBride, but the supporting teammates must also improve to meet any challenges that arise in the case that Collier and McBride can’t join them on the court. If the Lynx can maintain their defensive intensity, share scoring responsibilities, and follow through with any changes that Coach Cheryl Reeve goes through with, then they still have a fighting chance in Game Four. With so many uncertainties, however, the room for making mistakes is slimmer than ever for Minnesota. How they approach these challenges will determine whether or not Minnesota avoids elimination and keeps its postseason hopes alive.
