The WNBA just got a double dose of greatness. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier is back on the court—and she's turning heads off it too.
Collier, a five-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, missed several months with an ankle injury. But she made a thunderous return on July 22, dropping 24 points in an 86-76 win over the Seattle Storm. “I was just so excited,” Collier said. “I felt like a kid in a candy store. I couldn’t wait to get out on the court to get with these guys. I’m just really happy to be here.”
She followed that up with 15 points in a victory over the Toronto Tempo. Clearly, the time off didn't dull her edge.
To celebrate her comeback, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit released a photo from her rookie shoot—a sizzling shot taken on Captiva Island for the 2026 issue. Collier called the experience “an amazing opportunity” and said she's “grateful for everyone involved in making my dreams come true.”
Collier joins a long line of WNBA stars featured in SI Swimsuit, including Sue Bird, Cameron Brink, Nneka Ogwumike, and Breanna Stewart. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham also posed for the same 2026 issue. Cunningham described the shoot as empowering: “You just feel so empowered... they choose different body sizes, shapes and sizes, different ethnicities, like they just empower all types of women and it really was like frickin’ awesome.”
This isn't the first time a sports star has stunned in swimwear recently. Danica Patrick turned heads with a European summer shot at 44, and Sophie Cunningham fired back at critics with a daring white swimsuit snap. Meanwhile, Trish Stratus set social media ablaze with a stunning swimsuit snapshot at 50.
For Collier, the SI Swimsuit feature is just another highlight in a career full of them. The Lynx star is known for her fierce defense and clutch scoring, and her return gives Minnesota a major boost as they push for playoff positioning.
With her ankle healed and her confidence soaring, Collier is ready to dominate—both on the hardwood and in the spotlight. It's only a matter of time before she adds another WNBA star to the SI Swimsuit family.
