Lynx's Cheryl Reeve Provides Update on Kayla McBride's Ruptured Eardrum

The Minnesota Lynx star guard suffered the injury while flying home from playing overseas.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:37am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the blurred, energetic movements of WNBA basketball players on a court, capturing the raw intensity of the game.The Minnesota Lynx's dynamic backcourt duo of Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier will be crucial to the team's championship aspirations in the 2026 WNBA season.Atlanta Today

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve provided an update on All-Star guard Kayla McBride, who suffered a partially ruptured eardrum while flying home from playing overseas for Fenerbahçe in Turkey. Reeve expressed optimism that the injury would not prevent McBride from flying with the team or playing away games as the 2026 WNBA season approaches.

Why it matters

McBride is a key player for the Lynx, who are looking to bounce back after a disappointing end to their 2025 season when star forward Napheesa Collier suffered a serious ankle injury. The Lynx will need both McBride and Collier healthy if they hope to contend for a WNBA championship in 2026.

The details

McBride suffered the partially ruptured eardrum while flying home to the United States after playing overseas. She was unable to fly immediately after the injury, but Reeve said McBride has since flown and is "markedly better" than before. The Lynx re-signed McBride to a two-year contract, though the financial terms were not disclosed.

  • The Minnesota Lynx opened training camp on April 19, 2026.
  • The Lynx are slated to open the 2026 WNBA season against the Atlanta Dream on May 10, 2026.

The players

Cheryl Reeve

The head coach of the Minnesota Lynx.

Kayla McBride

An All-Star guard for the Minnesota Lynx who recently re-signed with the team on a two-year contract.

Napheesa Collier

An All-Star forward for the Minnesota Lynx who underwent offseason surgery to repair torn ligaments in both of her ankles.

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What they’re saying

“I'm hopeful that that's not the case. I think we've gotten to a space where she has since flown, and is, I think, markedly better than what she was experiencing before, so it shouldn't be the case that this is going to be lingering, but obviously, we'll keep an eye on that.”

— Cheryl Reeve, Head Coach, Minnesota Lynx

What’s next

The Lynx will continue to monitor Kayla McBride's recovery from the partially ruptured eardrum as they prepare for the start of the 2026 WNBA season on May 10 against the Atlanta Dream.

The takeaway

The Minnesota Lynx are hoping to have both Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier healthy and ready to go for the 2026 WNBA season as they look to bounce back from a disappointing end to their 2025 campaign. The team's success will hinge on the ability of their star players to stay on the court.