The WNBA Rookie of the Year race might already be over. And honestly, it probably was a wrap weeks ago.
Olivia Miles put on another show Tuesday night at Target Center, dropping 24 points, grabbing six boards and dishing eight assists as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Toronto Tempo 100-93. That’s eight straight wins for the Lynx, who now sit at 23-6 — best record in the league.
But here’s the stat that really jumps out. According to ESPN Insights, Miles has now logged nine games this season with at least 20 points and five assists. That puts her in a club with exactly two other rookies in WNBA history: Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Clark won Rookie of the Year in 2024. Bueckers won it in 2025. Both were near-unanimous choices.
She’s Not Just a Scorer
What makes Miles different from a lot of rookies is her feel for the game. Against Toronto, she shot 9-of-17 from the field and hit 4-of-5 from three. She’s not forcing anything. The game slows down for her in a way you don’t usually see from a 23-year-old second overall pick.
And remember, this is a Lynx team that’s been playing most of the season without Napheesa Collier, the franchise star who’s been out with an injury. Normally that would sink a team’s chances. Instead, Minnesota is sitting on top of the standings. Miles is a big reason why.
She’s the only rookie who made the All-Star Game this year. She started the game — only the 11th rookie ever to do that — and put up 11 points, 12 boards, eight assists and two steals. That’s not a fluke. That’s a player who belongs.
Does She Have a Shot at MVP Too?
At this point, the Rookie of the Year award feels like a formality. The question is whether Miles can make a real run at league MVP as a rookie. That’s rare air. Nobody’s done it since… well, maybe ever on this level. But with the Lynx rolling and Miles putting up numbers every night, it’s not crazy to think she could get votes.
Toronto dropped its fourth straight game and fell to 10-17. But this night belonged to Miles and the Lynx.
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