The 2018 NBA draft saw future Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić taken with the third overall pick behind DeAndre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III. Those first two picks have combined for zero All-NBA teams to Dončić’s six.

Now, NBA pundit Bill Simmons, founder and CEO of the Ringer, says the Dallas Wings made a similar mistake in not selecting former TCU standout Olivia Miles in this year’s WNBA draft.

Simmons initially erroneously said Miles went No. 3 overall - she went No. 2 to the Minnesota Lynx - before correcting his mistake.

“Olivia Miles falling to #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’ post came after the latest monster game from the rookie guard, who had 32 points on 54% shooting with eight rebounds, eight assists and only one turnover in the Lynx’s 105-102 win over the Seattle Storm on Monday.

Miles’ rookie season has been transcendent. She leads all rookies in points (19.6) and assists (6.0) and ranks third in rebounds (4.8) and steals (1.3).

Miles and the Lynx (21-6) are the only team in the WNBA with 20 wins, and all this is still without Napheesa Collier, the team’s best player who is still recovering from dual ankle surgeries.

Instead of Miles, the Wings spent the No. 1 pick on UConn’s Azzi Fudd, one of the greatest college shooting prospects in league history, and she has lived up to her reputation.

Fudd has been a sharpshooter with a quick release and decisive decision-making while adding strong defense. She leads all rookies in steals per game (1.7) while averaging 13.3 points (fourth among rookies) with 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

Fudd has helped lead the Wings (17-9) to the fourth-best record in the league, and they seem on track for their first playoff appearance since 2023.

However, Miles is the runaway favorite for WNBA Rookie of the Year, according to oddsmakers, and is third in MVP odds behind Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and Wings guard Paige Buecker.

In WNBA history only one rookie, Candace Parker in 2008, has ever won the award.

While Wings fans might lament passing on Miles, Dallas’ roster moves this summer - extending Arike Ogunbowale while adding Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith - made Fudd a cleaner fit with the team than Miles, who, similarly to Bueckers and Ogunbowale, is at her best with the ball in her hands.

There’s also an argument to be made for the Wings taking the best player available at No. 1 overall, fit be damned.

Regardless, though Miles has had the better rookie season to date, she and Fudd are only 30 games into their WNBA careers, directly after a grueling college season.

It’s not fair yet to compare Fudd to Ayton and Bagley.

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