Olivia Miles has had the biggest breakout among rookies this season. The second overall pick of the 2026 WNBA draft has been one of the most elite two-way guards this season. In the absence of superstar Napheesa Collier from the start of the season, the Minnesota Lynx were expected to have a mixed season. However, Miles has not let fans and opponents realize that the team’s superstar is on the bench.
Averaging 19.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.4 steals for the season thus far, Miles is leading the Rookie of the Year race. She struggled from the 3-point line in the first few games, but she has balanced that as well, now shooting 39.1% from deep.
Basketball analyst Shannon Sharpe hailed Miles’ performance in her rookie season and suggested that she might make history by repeating former WNBA star Candace Parker’s feat of winning both ROTY and season MVP in the same season. Sharpe said on Thursday:
“Olivia Miles ballin’. She gonna be running for the MVP. I don’t know if she can do what Candace Parker did, but Olivia Miles can flat-out play… She got wiggle, she got game like Maya Moore.”
Getting compared to legends of the game like Maya Moore and Candace Parker would only boost Miles’ confidence in upcoming games. Hall of Famer Moore brought four championships to Minnesota in her time with the team.
However, running the MVP race with reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and the Dallas Wings’ face, Paige Bueckers, might be a little difficult for Miles, but with the speed at which she is developing her game, Miles can be one of the frontrunners for the MVP title.
Olivia Miles Drops Career-High Numbers Against Los Angeles
Olivia Miles was on an offensive run in the Lynx’s 99-83 win over the LA Sparks on Wednesday. She dropped 31 points in 26 minutes, shooting 12-15 from the field and 2-3 from deep. Her all-around game, one-handed layups, and court vision have taken over the league.
Miles dominated a short-handed Sparks squad that was on the court without Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink. However, that takes nothing away from Olivia Miles’ stellar game, improving the team’s record to 12-3. Minnesota has dropped just one game in the last 11 and will look to extend the winning run against the Golden State Valkyries in its next outing.
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