Olivia Miles And The Minnesota Lynx Have Been An Instant Match In A Wnba Season Of Change

Minnesota Lynx started 5-2 despite losing key players.
Olivia Miles has taken over as the point guard for a title contender.
Miles is averaging at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in her first seven games.
Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, and Candace Parker are among players with similar stats.

Olivia Miles: A Fresh Start in Minnesota

Miles could hardly have found a better place to start her WNBA career. The Minnesota Lynx might just be the perfect fit for this rising star, with coach Cheryl Reeve and the team shrugging off significant changes.
With star Napheesa Collier sidelined following ankle surgery and five of the top eight players from last year gone, Miles has stepped into the spotlight as the point guard. This is an uncommon situation for a second overall pick in the draft, but there’s nothing ordinary about Miles.

Miles plays with her eyes so well. Her manipulation of defenders is like no player I’ve ever seen,” said Reeve, who has started her 17th season as head coach and fourth with the dual role of president of basketball operations.
“There’s just so many places she can go from a tempo standpoint, to help us play a little faster.”
Miles had 21 points and eight assists in her WNBA debut for the Lynx three weeks ago. She was the first rookie guard to start the opener for Minnesota since Monica Wright in 2010.
She has scored in double digits in all seven games, the longest streak to start a season for a Lynx rookie since Seimone Augustus had nine straight 10-plus-point games in 2006. Miles is the fourth player in league history to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists through her first seven career games.

Miles has seamlessly formed a productive pick-and-roll duo with newcomer Natasha Howard. Playing defense for the demanding Reeve, who desires intense ball pressure from her guards, has been the steepest learning curve.
“I have to have the confidence to speak up and let my game flow and get my teammates open,” Miles said. “I’m just so grateful that I waited one more year.”
Miles had a torn ACL at Notre Dame, which kept her out for over a year. She also faced criticism after transferring from Notre Dame to TCU.
“I learned my self-worth and to bet on yourself in moments where it may seem risky or it may not work out,” Miles said. “Look where I’m at now? I’m just so grateful that I waited one more year, or else I wouldn’t be here.”

Miles promised assistant coach Lindsay Whalen she’d pepper her with questions about playing the position in the league and for Reeve. Whalen said, “She wants to get better. She wants to work every single day.”
Minnesota is tied with Washington for the fewest among the non-expansion teams in the league.

With only four returning players from last season’s final roster, including Collier, who has yet to play.
The Lynx are off to a strong start and are taking sole possession of first place after a surgical victory over Atlanta on Wednesday.

Minnesota is in for an exciting season. Olivia Miles has already proven her worth, and the Lynx have found their match.