Throughout her college career, Olivia Miles demanded the nation's attention with her ability to do everything on the court: she recorded 12 triple-doubles in her time with Notre Dame and TCU, cementing herself as a true Swiss Army Knife that can get anything done on any given night. She went second in the 2026 WNBA Draft, after UConn's Azzi Fudd, inheriting a depleted Minnesota squad that gave her the chance to come in and start from day one.
Since then, the Lynx have definitely been validated in their decision to take her over other players like Spain's Awa Fam and UCLA's Lauren Betts. In her first three games in the W, Miles has averaged 16.3 points, seven assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game, shooting 50% from the field. She's the first ever WNBA rookie with 45+ points and 20+ assists in their first three games.
Miles has been able to get downhill with her one-of-a-kind first step and finish over bigger opponents, but her passing is really what's caught the attention of so many. She has shown a unique ability to make the right read, employing a patience rarely seen in rookies, and that skill has led to shots that have directly impacted the Lynx's wins.
Olivia Miles' PnR manipulation and court vision is so nuts.
— Jonah (@Huncho_Jman) May 13, 2026
What looks like a good defensive possession for the Mercury, turns into a Kayla McBride three. pic.twitter.com/Ukq4veoanM
The Lynx are supposed to be having a down year this season, but the potential of the Miles/Napheesa Collier pick-and-roll with Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams as kick-out options will be tough for opposing defenses. I'm sure the Lynx vets are excited to score a few more points this year too, as long as Miles is there to find them.
Pass-first PGs bring a team from good to great
Miles isn't the only point guard whose passing has her team in a great spot. It would be blasphemy to discuss the pass-first point guard without mentioning the Aces' Chelsea Gray, whose wizard-like court vision has carried her Las Vegas squad to three championships in the last four years. Their offense works because the front office has surrounded A'ja Wilson with guards who can get the ball down to her, and the dynamic offense from others like Chennedy Carter and Jackie Young are there to give the four-time MVP much-needed rest.
The Valkyries' Veronica Burton is another stellar example. The reigning Most Improved Player found a new home in Golden State last year, and has since been the anchor to the expansion team's playoff-level offense. To start this season, she's averaging 15 points and 7.3 assists, and in a decisive win against the Phoenix Mercury, recorded 13 points and 12 assists with 0 turnovers.
That kind of performance will fly over the heads of many casual fans, who only want to see guards score 30 points on acrobatic 3s. What those watchers fail to realize is just how instrumental that kind of ball movement is to winning. In the Valkyries' next game, Burton only dished out four turnovers and turned the ball over five times, and they lost to the Sky.
The league's general managers agree–it's the reason why 73% of them chose Gray as the best point guard in the league, and the same percentage predicted that Miles will win Rookie of the Year honors over Fudd. Passing leads to scoring which leads to winning.
When the league's point guards focus on facilitating offense more than packing the stat sheets, the results speak for themselves.
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