Olivia Miles Drives Minnesota Lynx to WNBA Standing Lead

Minnesota Lynx rookie point guard Olivia Miles has propelled her team to a league-leading 31-7 record while surging into the WNBA Most Valuable Player conversation behind historic statistical production as of August 2026.

Drafted second overall, the 23-year-old playmaker averages 20.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range, according to league statistical tracking.

Miles recently passed Ticha Penicheiro for the second-most assists by a rookie in WNBA history during a matchup against the Golden State Valkyries, placing her behind only Caitlin Clark's 2024 record of 337 assists, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

Additionally, Miles is on track to join Clark, Diana Taurasi, and Candace Parker as the only players in WNBA history to average at least 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists over a full season.

Head coach Cheryl Reeve praised her young point guard's poise under intense defensive focus following a recent victory over Golden State.

"She has a maturity about her," Reeve said. "That’s a rookie. It’s high stakes, and you know she is going to be targeted and part of the other team’s game plan. … She has a natural maturity for the position that she plays, recognizing what was being given to her, and she was opportunistic."

The rookie managed the offense and sustained Minnesota's strong record while star forward Napheesa Collier recovered from offseason ankle surgeries. Following a 94-84 win against the Washington Mystics, Reeve emphasized Miles' crucial importance to the roster's overall standings.

"If Olivia Miles doesn't play, we're not 31 and 7," Reeve said.

The Lynx coach reiterated that team success should weigh heavily in the league's postseason award selection process.

"So, to me, MVP awards should go to teams that are at the top, especially if that player, if she’s not out there, we have a hard time being where we are," Reeve continued.

Since Collier returned to action on July 22, Minnesota has gone 10-1 and averaged 93.5 points per game. The two players have established an effective pick-and-roll partnership, with Collier shooting 51.5% from the field and a career-high 47.4% from beyond the arc.

Holding a five-game cushion at the top of the standings, Minnesota has six games remaining in the regular season as the franchise targets its second WNBA Finals appearance in three years.