Exactly halfway through the 2026 WNBA season, Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier is just now getting back to the court after a series of injuries required two separate ankle surgeries between seasons. For star athletes, she stresses, recovery is a never-ending process that requires physical and mental fortitude.
“People see what we put on the court, but they don’t see things that go behind it,” she told Glamour ahead of the WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago on July 25. “It’s very glamorized. I think it’s important for people to see that we all have issues too, and how we navigate that.”
That’s why she chose to participate in Glamour’s Full Court Health panel, co-hosted by the medicine company Eli Lilly just hours before the big game. “It’s really important to not let the future overwhelm you because you can’t control the future,” the Glamour Woman of the Year and Lily Partner said during a conversation with sports analyst Andraya Carter and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. “I can’t control that I hurt both my ankles. I can control how hard I’m working my rehab. I can control my mindset going into it. I really try to focus inward on that and not all the things that I have no control over on the outside.”
Holly Rowe, Napheesa Collier, and Andraya Carter discuss prioritizing their health during the Full Court Health panel, “Because I Have My Health: Prioritizing What Matters.”
Bianca Garcia Photography
Rowe and Carter can both relate, having been through health struggles that permanently shifted their priorities and perspective on wellness. Carter had her heart set on playing professional basketball when she suffered a career-ending injury at 23-years old, while Rowe won a long battle with stage IV skin cancer while continuing to report from the sidelines. During their conversation, all three stressed that moving their bodies had an immeasurable impact on their mental and physical health during the most daunting stages of recovery.
“If I’m feeling off mentally and emotionally, getting in a workout is going to help me feel better,” Carter said. “But also, getting in my workouts and taking care of my body helps me feel good mentally and emotionally. To me, all three are so connected.”
That was the overarching theme of the Full Court Health event, hosted by Glamour, GQ Sports, and Eli Lilly and Company, at VenueSix10 during All-Star Weekend. All guests entered the red and white space with their very own tunnel walk before being greeted with a variety of activities aimed towards improving physical and mental health in small but impactful ways, from a glam-bot that gets you moving to GQ Sports’ shooting challenge for those who wanted to show off their skills.
