Sprained right ankle likely to sideline Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier for weeks

Napheesa Collier of the Lynx was named the WNBA Western Conference player of the month for July on Monday.

But it doesn’t look good for a repeat performance in August.

Collier, the front-runner for WNBA MVP, is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks after spraining her right ankle in Saturday’s victory over the Aces in Las Vegas. She flew back to Minneapolis to be examined, with her teammates in Seattle preparing for Tuesday’s game against the Storm.

The Lynx released a statement saying, in part, “After undergoing an MRI, Collier was evaluated by team physician Dr. Elena Jelsing at Mayo Clinic Square, where a right ankle sprain was confirmed. Collier will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks and further updates on her progress will be provided when available.”

The Lynx All-Star forward ranks in the WNBA’s top five in points, steals, blocks and field goal percentage. She leads the league in scoring (23.5 points per game) and is ninth in rebounds (7.5).

In July, Collier was the MVP of the All-Star Game and averaged 23.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in 12 games, nine of them victories.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who posted her 350th career victory on July 16, was named the league’s Coach of the Month for July.

On Monday, guard Kayla McBride was named Western Conference player of the week. She made eight consecutive three-pointers in the first half Saturday in Las Vegas, tying the franchise record for made threes in a game.