Lynne Roberts tried everything. She threw different defenders at Olivia Miles. She mixed up coverages. She adjusted the game plan on the fly. None of it mattered.
Miles went off for 31 points, four rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes Wednesday night, leading the Minnesota Lynx to a 99-83 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. And after the game, Roberts didn’t bother pretending she had an answer.
“She’s good,” Roberts told ESPN. “She’s talented, and it’s what I said pregame, she’s super skilled, so we were trying to mix things up. We didn’t execute it exactly how we hoped to all the time. But you have to just tip your hat to her. She’s a great player with a lot of skill. Her ballhandling and vision is what separates her.”
That 31-point night is a career high for the rookie. It’s also the highest scoring game any rookie has put up so far in the 2026 season. But the truly jaw-dropping part came early.
One half was all she needed
Miles scored 24 points in the first 20 minutes. That’s a WNBA rookie record for most points in a half. She was hitting from deep, getting to the rim, setting up teammates. The Sparks had no answer.
Los Angeles was without Kelsey Plum, who’s still recovering from a lower leg injury. And while that’s a real loss, it doesn’t fully explain what happened. Miles was just that good.
The Lynx are now 12-3 and sitting alone at the top of the WNBA standings. They’re in a comfortable spot as the season approaches its midpoint, and Miles is a huge reason why. She’s been on an absolute tear since day one of her professional career, and Wednesday was just the latest example.
Minnesota heads to Golden State next, facing the Valkyries on June 19 at 10 PM ET. The Sparks, meanwhile, have to figure out how to slow down a rookie who’s already making veteran guards look slow.
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