Napheesa Collier suffered a Grade 2 tear of her ankle ligaments and a muscle in her shin during last Friday's collision with Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, sources told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Collier, who would have been out for at least six weeks, would not have been able to return to the playoffs had the Lynx defeated the Mercury.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected from Game 3 following her reaction to the collision that injured Collier.
Collier was recently critical of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her exit interview.