The 2026 WNBA season is barely a month old, but Olivia Miles is already emerging as a near-lock for the Rookie of the Year honor. Miles, just 23 years old, has taken the league by storm. Through seven games, she is averaging 15.1 points, 5 rebounds and 5.8 assists, leading all rookies in scoring ahead of the Dallas Wings’ Azzi Fudd.
Her breakout season has not only put her in the Rookie of the Year conversation, but it has also sparked discussions about her being a franchise-altering talent. It’s never easy for a WNBA team to start the season without its best player. The Minnesota Lynx have dealt with that reality for much of the 2026 campaign, with Napheesa Collier missing time due to an ankle injury.
In her absence, several players have been asked to step up. Olivia Miles, in particular, has taken on an expanded role. She is logging over 30 minutes per game and has started every contest so far, unlike her Rookie of the Year counterpart Fudd, who has yet to start a game for the Wings.
In Minnesota’s game against the Atlanta Dream, Miles logged a team-high 34 minutes. She recorded 16 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, continuing a remarkable month that has already placed her among elite company league-wide.
Her averages of 15 points, five rebounds and five assists through the first seven games place her alongside some legendary names. Candace Parker, Caitlin Clark, and Sabrina Ionescu are the only other players to accomplish similar feats early in their careers.
The best part about Miles’ early performances is the fact that she has barely scratched the surface of her potential. As she continues to develop and flourish, she could become an even bigger force once Collier returns.
A lot of expectations came with being the first overall pick, but Azzi Fudd’s play has yet to fully live up to the hype. The 23-year-old is averaging 11.0 points, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 rebounds through six games.
Still, she showcased flashes of her potential in the Dallas Wings’ 91-76 win over the New York Liberty, where she dropped a career-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
One reason Fudd isn’t ranked higher in the Rookie of the Year race is her role off the bench. Fudd has played all six games as a reserve, which is uncommon for a traditional No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA.
Realistically, Fudd has been good enough to win Rookie of the Year if she gets more opportunities and playing time in what is shaping up to be a two-player race to the finish line.
The Wings have struggled for years without elite talent in the backcourt. With Paige Bueckers arriving in Dallas last season and now pairing her with Fudd, the franchise finally has players capable of taking over games and elevating the team around them. Fudd continues to look dangerous and is beginning to heat up offensively.
Recent history has shown that the Rookie of the Year award usually goes to the rookie who leads the class in scoring. If the first few weeks of the season have taught fans anything, it’s that Olivia Miles is currently the frontrunner.
There is also another name close in the race: Kiki Rice of the Toronto Tempo. She is averaging 12.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 55.9% from the field. While Rice’s numbers are not quite as high as Miles’, she has been a rockstar for the expansion franchise and is on pace to play enough games to firmly remain in Rookie of the Year consideration.
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