Olivia Miles Lifts Lynx to 11-3 Start
olivia miles has moved into Minnesota’s starting lineup and the Lynx are 11-3 about a quarter of the way into the season. The rookie guard is running the offense for the WNBA’s top team while Napheesa Collier has been out with an ankle injury. That combination has turned Miles from a second overall pick in April into one of the league’s most watched young players.
Cheryl Reeve Trusts Miles
Cheryl Reeve said, “This is the first real point guard we’ve had since Lindsay Whalen.” The quote lands hard because it comes from the coach who has been asked to sort through roster churn and an offense missing its franchise centerpiece.
Miles entered Minnesota as the second overall pick, and the move has been immediate. She is no longer easing into the league or waiting for a backup role to open. She is starting at point guard for a team that has already built a cushion in the standings.
June 4 In Minneapolis
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase called Miles “mini Magic Johnson” before the teams played in Minneapolis on June 4. The label matched the way Miles has been described internally as both a “highlight reel player” and a “film room player,” a rare combination for a rookie asked to direct the offense this early.
The Lynx’s start also gives her rise a sharper edge. Collier’s ankle injury left Minnesota without its most established frontcourt presence, and the roster has already seen change after Diamond Miller was traded to Dallas at the 2025 deadline after playing sparingly. Miles has filled a spot that could have gone to a veteran, and she has done it on a first-place pace.
Minnesota’s Early Edge
The 11-3 record matters because it tells the story of trust as much as talent. A quarter of the way into the season, Minnesota has already leaned on a rookie at the point while carrying the pressure that comes with being judged as a contender. That is a different test from simply surviving early minutes.
It also fits the team’s recent draft reality. The Lynx have not always gotten lasting help from the lottery, and young players have not always won Reeve over quickly. Miles has changed that conversation for now, and her next challenge is keeping the offense steady as the season moves deeper into the schedule.
