It was announced on Thursday, New Year’s Day, that one of the co-founders of Unrivaled, Napheesa Collier, will miss the 2026 Unrivaled season due to injuries in both of her ankles and will undergo surgery. According to the news, Collier will miss four to six months, which will force her to miss the second season of Unrivaled. This is bad news not only for the league but also for her fellow teammates, the Lunar Owls. Unrivaled announced the Golden State Valkerie center, Temi Fagbenle, will replace Collier with a multi-year contract. However, Collier was hopeful of recovering fully before the season started in January.
Napheesa Collier
Napheesa, who won the MVP in the first season of Unrivaled, her presence will be missed on the court. She is a competitor on both sides of the ball. The excitement she brings to the league and on the court will be missed. She is a role model to so many young girls and the younger players in the league. Napheesa’s leadership is unmatched and vital to the younger generation of players. Her replacement, Fagbenle, will be an exciting addition to the Lunar Owls. Temi’s strongest strength is defense and defense is what makes basketball exciting to watch.
Temi’s Numbers in the 2025 WNBA Season With Golden State:
- Points per game: 7.4
- Total rebounds per game: 4.9
- Steals per game: 0.9
- Blocks per game: 0.6
Fagbenle will be an excellent replacement for Collier for the 2026 Unrivaled season.
Napheesa Made her Official Announcement via Instagram:
“I am heartbroken to share that I will miss this Unrivaled season. I have fought hard over the last few months to be back with my Owls and was devastated to be told by my team of doctors that surgery was the best path forward,” Collier, who plays for the Lunar Owls BC in Unrivaled, said in a statement on Instagram. “I will still be cheering on my teammates every step of the way, and I will continue to work relentlessly with the rest of the players and our staff to push our sport forward and raise the bar for women’s basketball.”
How to Watch the 2026 Unrivaled Season
Spectators can watch the 2026 season via TNT and truTV and stream it on HBO Max. The opening day of Unrivaled is January 5, 2026. The 1-on-1 Tournament commences on Feb. 11 and will continue on the 13th and 14th. The regular season ends on Feb. 27, and the playoffs start on Feb. 28. The championship game begins on March 4.
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