In her first season with the Minnesota Lynx, rookie guard Olivia Miles has taken the WNBA by storm. Just in case anyone still doubted her scoring and playmaking prowess, no less than a Basketball Hall of Famer gave Miles his stamp of approval.
As the Lynx took on the Washington Mystics on Sunday night, Kevin Garnett gave Miles her flowers.
“Olivia Miles is one of the best rookies in ALL of basketball… @nba or @wnba”
The arrival of Miles was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Lynx, who have been dealing with the absence of their star Napheesa Collier. Earlier this year, Collier underwent two surgeries to repair her ankles; though initial estimates had her returning to action in early June, Collier has yet to suit up for Minnesota this season.
In her absence, Miles has stepped up as a focal point of the Lynx’s offense. The former TCU standout has started in each of Minnesota’s 17 games. Heading into the Sunday night matchup against the Lynx, Miles is averaging 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Shortly before the 2026 WNBA draft, there was buzz surrounding Miles as a potential No. 1 pick. Ultimately, UConn’s Azzi Fudd got the nod as the Dallas Wings’ top overall selection, allowing the Lynx to take Miles one draft pick later.
By comparison, Fudd is putting up 12.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg and 1.5 apg while getting nine starts in 15 games. Fudd is starting to find her groove in Dallas, while in contrast, Miles has come out guns blazing with the league-leading Lynx.
Olivia Miles Tops ESPN’s List of MVP Prospects, Beats Two Former MVPs in Total Net Points
Aside from Garnett’s ringing endorsement, advanced numbers show that Olivia Miles is making a tremendous impact on the Lynx’s winning ways.
On Sunday, ESPN posted a graphic showing that Miles is No. 1 in total net points, an indicator of MVP potential.
On this list, Miles bested two MVPs: A’ja Wilson (who came in at No. 2) and Breanna Stewart (who ranked No. 7).
Caitlin Clark Fans Dunk On Olivia Miles After Lynx Guard Struggles While Facing “Actual Defense”
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