Olivia Miles continued her dream WNBA start in Thursday’s win over Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd’s Dallas Wings. The Minnesota Lynx rookie finished with 15 points and six assists on 7 of 12 shots, leading her team to a 90-86 record. While Bueckers had a more productive game individually with 27 points and eight assists on 7 of 13 shots, Miles emerged on top in the clutch.
Miles had four points and three assists in the fourth, including a crucial game-tying bucket with 1:25 left. On the other hand, Bueckers had six points and one assist in that stretch. The reigning Rookie of the Year missed a clutch free throw with 13 seconds left, which could have made it a one-point game. Bueckers also had rough stretches on defense in crunch time.
Meanwhile, Miles’ rookie rival Fudd had her best game yet, but it was nowhere close to as impactful as the Lynx guard. Fudd finished with eight points and a rebound off the bench, shooting 4 of 7. After another game-winning performance from Miles, especially against the former UConn duo, fans hailed the Lynx prospect at the expense of Bueckers and Fudd.
“Olivia miles clears that fraud azzi fudd,” one fan said.
“Should have drafted Olivia Miles. She looked dominant out there,” another wrote.
“This is all basketball talk: Olivia Miles should have been the No. 1. She is far better than anyone in this draft class,” one fan added.
“Soooooo Miles is winning Rookie of the year as of right now it’s been badddd for Azzi the last two games!” one fan predicted.
“No one should ever pick just a really good shooter as the number 1 pick. That was obvious but we all know why she was picked. Can you imagine Olivia with Paige?” another said.
Olivia Miles joins elite club after first three WNBA games
Olivia Miles is averaging 16.3 points and 7.0 assists per game through her first three WNBA games. The No. 2 pick joined an elite club after amassing those numbers consistently as she joined Caitlin Clark, Candace Parker, Sue Bird and Nikki McCray as the only players to average more than 15 points and five assists in their first three games.
Miles’ 21 assists also put her in the record books. It’s tied for the fourth-most through a player’s first three games, according to WNBA reporter Alexa Philioppu.
Wings face massive scrutiny over Azzi Fudd pick after Olivia Miles’ incredible start
The Wings face massive scrutiny for picking Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 pick instead of Olivia Miles or a center for frontcourt depth. The Wings needed that depth at the point of attack or at the five. However, they chose to reunite Paige Bueckers with her former college running mate, hoping the chemistry would hit again.
So far, Fudd has played only two out of three games. In her debut, she recorded the fewest points in league history for a No. 1 pick (three). The Wings have a surplus of guards, with five players in the backcourt, leaving them at a size deficit. It was one of the key reasons behind their last two losses against bigger teams like Minnesota and Atlanta.
On Thursday, Natasha Howard outplayed Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith, with a 26-point, five-rebound game. Howard shot 11 of 14, making the most of Dallas’ weak frontcourt depth.
