MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Olivia Miles, the rookie phenom for the Minnesota Lynx, was just selected as a starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game. With her natural court vision, sharp passing, and slick scoring abilities, Miles has had one of the league’s most spectacular rookie seasons. She has been a breath of fresh air, helping the Lynx to the top spot.
Miles has been the driving engine behind the Minnesota Lynx’s surge to the top of the standings, blending instinctive court vision with crisp passing and a sleek scoring touch. Through 20+ games, she’s averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting a scorching 52% from the field — numbers that read like a veteran’s stat line, not a rookie’s.
“I think I’m more so surprised with just the ability to be me so early on, which is a credit to my environment,” Miles told Nitecast Media. “Coach [Cheryl] Reeve has been amazing. My teammates have been amazing. So yeah, it’s allowed me to be really comfortable.”
That comfort has translated into fearless play as she attacks the rim nightly and runs the offense with poise beyond her years.
Miles credits confidence and relationships for her rapid ascent, saying she always knew what she could do as a player and expected to make an impact, just not this quickly. She shared that building relationships and letting teammates get to know her is helping her earn their trust and respect.
Respect from established stars has followed. When asked about comparisons to veteran guard Chelsea Gray — who praised Miles’ ball handling and basketball IQ — Miles shrugged off the magnitude of the compliment. “It means a lot. It means I have the respect of some of the greats… I watched and studied her film for a while, along with other greats like Sue Bird and other great point guards. So it’s a blessing, it’s an honor.”
Her inspirations read like a who’s who of basketball that include future and current basketball Hall of Famer.
“It’s definitely Steph Curry, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and more recently (Los Angeles Lakers star) Luka [Doncic], watching his pace. I watch him a lot. And obviously, it’s an honor to play in the same building that he plays in. So it’ll be cool to have that and be in that environment, but also just realize that I’ve watched these people growing up and being able to play where they play.”
Beyond the box score, Miles brings an edge that ignites crowds. “I’m having a blast. I mean, it’s tiring, and it’s exhausting to travel the amount of games… but finding that joy is what keeps me going through it all. And basketball brings me so much joy. You have to feed off the crowd, home or away.”
With All-Star Napheesa Collier moving closer toward a return, and established scorers Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams in the fold, the Lynx look even more dangerous down the stretch. The Lynx have the makings of truly being a strong championship contender this season.
