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The Minnesota Lynx improved to a WNBA-best 21-6 by beating Seattle Storm on Monday, July 20. In the victory, rookie point guard Olivia Miles posted 32 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists — her second 30-point game this month — to complement All-Star guard Kayla McBride’s season-high 33 points.
“Olivia Miles had 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists tonight (and 1 turnover),” Will Ragatz wrote. “It’s the second 32/8/8 game by a rookie in WNBA history and the first since Candace Parker in 2008. This is an all-time great debut season.”
The Ringer founder Bill Simmons couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Olivia Miles falling to No. 3 was just as stupid and indefensible as Luka falling to 3 in 2018,” Simmons posted on X. “Can’t believe the [expletive] she’s doing during these games, just a blast to watch. A true hooper. She needs to be a bigger deal.”
Simmons added, “My bad she fell to 2 not 3 (I had Luka in my head)… same thing though, she should have gone first.”
The Lynx lucked out by selecting Miles with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13. Former UConn star Azzi Fudd went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings.
Miles has dazzled since her WNBA debut, in which she posted 21 points, eight assists, and three rebounds, and is averaging 19.6 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals so far this year.
Miles was voted as a starter for the upcoming 2026 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25, and is the runaway favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year. Lynx veterans Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard will join Miles as All-Stars this weekend.
Miles surely has her sights set on helping the Lynx win their first WNBA title since 2017. Crucial to that cause, All-Star and All-WNBA forward Napheesa Collier, the face of the franchise, is expected to make her season debut against the Storm on Wednesday. Collier underwent two ankle surgeries in the offseason.
The fact the Lynx still have Collier to pair with Howard and unleash on the league is an unfair competitive advantage. Miles’ emergence has allowed for veteran guard Courtney Williams to concede the point to Miles and slot back into her natural position. Miles, McBride, and Williams have formed a formidable backcourt that can go toe to toe with any backcourt in the WNBA.
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