The Minnesota Lynx have looked like the best team in the WNBA through the first chunk of the season. They’re doing it without Napheesa Collier, who still hasn’t played a game yet. And a big reason for that early success has been rookie Olivia Miles, who’s been playing like she’s been in the league for five years, not a few months.
So when Miles went down during Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks, you could feel the collective panic from every Lynx fan watching.
The play happened when Miles drove into the lane and stepped on Dearica Hamby’s foot. She rolled her left ankle and went straight to the floor. She was down for a bit before getting up and heading back to the locker room. The video of the play — which showed her ankle bending awkwardly — made rounds on social media fast.
But here’s the good news: Miles is back on the bench now.
She returned to the Lynx sideline in the second half, which suggests whatever happened isn’t serious. The team hasn’t released an official statement on her status yet, but the fact that she’s not in the locker room getting further evaluation is a positive sign. It’s not a guarantee she’ll play the next game, but it’s a lot better than the alternative.
Miles has been a revelation this season. She’s averaging 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting nearly 40 percent from three. For a rookie, that’s impressive. For a rookie stepping into a starting role on a team with championship expectations, that’s borderline remarkable. The Lynx drafted her with the sixth overall pick, and she’s already looking like one of the steals of the draft.
If this had been a serious injury, it would’ve been a massive blow. The Lynx are trying to build momentum early while Collier rehabs from her own injury. Losing Miles for any extended period would’ve put a lot of pressure on the rest of the roster.
For now, it looks like they dodged one. We’ll know more once the team gives an official update on her status.
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