Olivia Miles, the Minnesota Lynx's rookie point guard, has quickly become a standout player in the WNBA, earning the nickname "The Spectacle" due to her impressive play and trademark goggles. Two months into her career, she is averaging 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, making her a strong favorite for Rookie of the Year and a legitimate fringe MVP candidate. She ranks fourth in MVP odds, behind A'ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers.
Miles has achieved one of the best rookie starts in WNBA history, scoring 356 points in her first 19 games, placing her in the top 10 all-time for rookies and surpassing notable players like Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers. She also holds the best plus-minus for any WNBA player through their first 19 games. She is currently averaging 19.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 49.7% from the field and 40.0% from beyond the arc—significant improvements from her college statistics.
Her immediate impact has been crucial for the Lynx, who hold the best record in the league at 23-6, even with franchise player Napheesa Collier sidelined for much of the season due to ankle surgery. Miles has set several rookie records, including a 33-point game against the Phoenix Mercury and eight three-pointers in a single game against the Golden State Valkyries. She is also the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, achieving this in just 22 games.
Miles has won every WNBA Rookie of the Month award this season, putting her in contention for the All-WNBA First Team, an honor only five rookies have achieved in league history. While A'ja Wilson remains the frontrunner for MVP, Miles's performance has solidified her place as one of the most exciting young talents in the WNBA, proving skeptics about her defensive abilities and three-point shooting wrong.
