Olivia Miles’ Impressive WNBA Start
Olivia Miles has certainly exceeded expectations. Drafted second overall by the Minnesota Lynx after spending five years at TCU, the 23-year-old guard quickly made a name for herself as an exceptional passer and playmaker, especially in a time when basketball is drifting away from traditional point guards.
However, once she stepped into the WNBA arena, some doubts surfaced regarding her jump shot and defensive skills—questions many were pondering.
Fast forward a month into the season, and Miles is not only in the running for Rookie of the Year but is also part of discussions for the MVP title. That’s quite a leap, wouldn’t you say?
Averaging 17 points, 6.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, her stats are impressive. She’s ranked 15th in points per game, seventh in assists, and eighth in steals. Not to mention, she’s shooting 50.4% from the field, 34.5% from three-point range, and 91.7% from the free-throw line.
Most crucially, with Miles leading the charge, the Lynx are thriving, holding the best record in the league at 8-2. They’re winning games by an average margin of 11.1 points. Since May 17th, she has helped the team remain unbeaten, achieving six straight wins.
On the night they faced the Golden State Valkyries, Miles had started off a bit rocky, having made only two of her first 18 three-pointers. But in that game, she dramatically turned things around, hitting 8 of 11 attempts and finishing with 28 points, seven assists, four rebounds, three blocks, and just one turnover. Remarkably, she became the first rookie in WNBA history to sink eight three-pointers in a single game.
“She went crazy,” said Lynx guard Courtney Williams after the victory. “She carried us in the first half. I told her, ‘If they want to keep trailing, make them pay,’ and she did just that.”
While it’s a bit early for serious MVP discussions, it’s hard to exclude a rookie with such flair—especially one who wears goggles.
Las Vegas ace A’ja Wilson is the current leading scorer in the league, averaging 24.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Given her all-around impact, she is probably the front-runner for MVP—for now, at least.
Other notable players include Kelsey Mitchell and Kaitlin Clark from the Indiana Fever, Alisha Gray from the Atlanta Dream, and others who are racking up points, but none quite match the efficiency or playmaking ability Miles brings to the Lynx. Plus, several of them aren’t even on top teams.
Miles’ shooting might be a game-changer, but her performance on Thursday certainly highlighted her potential.
“I could shoot at any time,” Miles reflected later. “It’s about being comfortable and taking the right shots in the right rhythm, within our system. I felt good tonight. They respected my drives, so I had to stay confident and exploit that.”
Even so, her coach, Cheryl Reeve, admitted they didn’t anticipate such a standout shooting performance from Miles.
“Honestly, that wasn’t on our bingo card,” Reeve shared. “But we’re glad to have it.”
With just ten games under her belt, Olivia Miles is already part of a discussion that few anticipated when she was drafted just a couple of months ago.
