Lynx rule star Collier out for must-win Game 4

PHOENIX -- Lynx guardant Napheesa Collier has been ruled retired of Minnesota's Game 4 matchup against the Phoenix Mercury successful the WNBA semifinals with what the squad is calling a near ankle injury.

Sunday's crippled is simply a must-win for the Lynx, arsenic they way 2-1 successful the best-of-five series.

Collier suffered the wounded with 21.8 seconds near successful the Lynx's 87-76 Game 3 nonaccomplishment to the Mercury aft her near limb made interaction with Phoenix defender Alyssa Thomas arsenic Thomas went for a steal, resulting successful Collier coming down hard connected the broadside of the ankle.

Collier limped to the bench, wherever she sat with tears welling successful her eyes. She was yet assisted disconnected the tribunal earlier the extremity of the game. Afterward, Lynx manager Cheryl Reeve said that determination was "probably a fracture" connected Collier's leg, but did not elaborate.

The Lynx besides did not elaborate connected Collier's wounded further than what was enactment connected the wounded study Saturday and did not supply a timeline for her recovery.

The play connected which Collier was wounded sent Reeve into a rage, storming onto the tribunal to outcry astatine an authoritative and needing to beryllium held backmost arsenic she was assessed her 2nd method of the game, and therefore, ejected.

Reeve spent her postgame criticizing the referees, saying it was "malpractice" for this radical to officiate a WNBA semifinals game, and calling for a alteration of enactment astatine the league level regarding who is successful complaint of officiating.

The WNBA announced that Reeve would beryllium suspended for 1 crippled for her "conduct and comments" successful Game 3 that included "aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a crippled authoritative connected the court, nonaccomplishment to permission the tribunal successful a timely mode upon her ejection ... inappropriate comments made to fans erstwhile exiting the court, and remarks made successful a post-game property conference."

Reeve volition service her suspension during Game 4, forcing the Lynx to combat disconnected elimination without their caput manager and their prima player.

Collier missed 7 consecutive games betwixt July and August portion she dealt with a close ankle sprain. Minnesota went 5-2 without Collier during that stretch.