Olivia Miles scored 31 points in 26 minutes and shot 80% from the field in the Minnesota Lynx’s 99-83 road win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night. Through 15 games of her first professional season, she has become the Lynx’s lead scorer and lead passer.
Olivia Miles Drives the Lynx
That game was the latest proof of how quickly Miles has taken control of the offense. She entered the night leading Minnesota with 19.0 points per game and 5.7 assists per game, and she was making more than half her shots while carrying a larger load than most rookies are asked to handle this early.
Cheryl Reeve selected her with the second pick in this year’s draft, and the bet has already changed the shape of the roster. Miles has turned into the player Minnesota leans on for creation, not just a scorer who finishes possessions.
Minnesota Lynx Without Napheesa Collier
The surge has come while the Minnesota Lynx have been missing Napheesa Collier since last September. Minnesota has stayed atop the league standings anyway, with Miles becoming the most visible reason the offense has held its level.
She has also already drawn comparisons that go beyond a normal rookie burst. After another performance against Portland, Reeve compared her to Maya Moore, while Miles has pointed to Maya Moore and Luka Dončić as inspirations. Fans have even taken to calling her The Spectacle.
Miles has given the Lynx a player who can score, pass and compress a game in a few minutes. She has already outplayed Azzi Fudd in a road rout against Dallas last month, and her season-best night against the Los Angeles Sparks showed how fast the ceiling is rising for Minnesota’s rookie guard.
