Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve declared Saturday that the franchise still belongs to Napheesa Collier even as rookie Olivia Miles has emerged as an All-Star starter and MVP candidate. "With regard to her insertion, it's still Phee's team," Reeve said ahead of a matchup against the New York Liberty. The Lynx enter the weekend tied atop the WNBA standings at 16-6 alongside the Las Vegas Aces, a position secured largely by Miles' production in Collier's absence.

Collier, who finished second to A'ja Wilson in MVP voting the past two seasons, recently returned to practice following dual ankle surgeries this offseason. No timetable exists for her season debut. Meanwhile, Miles has averaged 18.5 points and 5.7 assists and earned a starting spot in the All-Star Game in Chicago in two weeks. Teammates Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride have publicly reinforced Collier's leadership role, Reeve noted.

Reeve, who captured the WNBA's all-time regular-season wins record with Wednesday's 86-80 victory over the Connecticut Sun, framed Collier's return as an opportunity rather than a conflict. The former MVP candidate has never played alongside a natural point guard like Miles — a dynamic Reeve compared to the Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore eras. "Then maybe let's get some games with [Collier and Miles] together and figure out what they look like," Reeve said.

The Lynx have thrived with Miles running the offense, but Collier's two-way dominance remains the franchise's foundation. How Reeve integrates the league's best rookie into a system built around a perennial MVP finalist will determine whether Minnesota can convert its early success into a championship run.