The Minnesota Lynx will be without Olivia Miles for a second consecutive game when they face the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, leaving the league leaders short-handed again as they continue to manage a thin rotation.
Miles, the No. 2 overall pick, has now been sidelined by a right calf injury after last playing on July 3 in a loss to the New York Liberty, when she left early because of cramping. Her absence matters because Minnesota have leaned on her playmaking and pace through 20 games, and they will need to adjust again against a Connecticut team that comes in with a 5-16 record.
Another absence for Minnesota
This is not an isolated setback for the Lynx. Napheesa Collier is also out, which leaves Cheryl Reeve with fewer reliable options in a game that still matters for positioning and momentum, even against a Connecticut side that has struggled for much of the season.
The injury situation is especially notable because Minnesota have been one of the strongest teams in the WNBA, and their margin for error changes quickly when key names are missing. Collier’s earlier postseason ankle injury last fall is a reminder of how much the Lynx have had to adapt when their best players are unavailable.
Reeve, Thibault and a milestone to watch
There is also a personal milestone in play. Cheryl Reeve and Mike Thibault are tied at 379 regular-season wins, so this matchup carries significance beyond the injury report and the standings.
For the Lynx, though, the first task is simple: find enough scoring and ball-handling to cope without Miles and Collier. Against a Connecticut team that will see this as a chance to compete at home, the result may come down to which side handles the absences better.
