Olivia Miles might be the biggest story of the 2026 season so far. Drafted No. 2 to the Minnesota Lynx, Miles was one of the best collegiate players in the country for both Notre Dame and TCU, and came into the league with high expectations. Somehow, though, she has exceeded them all, and has firmly solidified herself as the Rookie of the Year, and a potential candidate for the MVP award.
Before Friday's game against the Golden State Valkyries, Miles was averaging 19 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game, and had scored at least 13 points in every game of the Lynx's season, leading the team to a 12-3 record despite predictions that the team would struggle without star forward Napheesa Collier. The Valkyries' highly ranked defense gave Miles her first real taste of struggle this season, but the rookie still found a way to affect the game in a way that ended in a Lynx win.
Golden State is a defensive powerhouse
If you know anything about the Valkyries, it's that they pride themselves on defense. This offseason, Golden State signed Gabby Williams, a two-time All-Defensive Team pick and back-to-back EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year, who has taken the team to new heights. The Valkyries rank second in defensive rating—ironically, only second to the Lynx—and in every press conference after a loss, you can bet on hearing Coach Natalie Nakase and her players criticize their failure to let their defense dictate the direction of the game.
Opposing coaches are very open about how much of a challenge the Valkyries pose. In May, Hall of Fame coach Becky Hammon said the team was "menacing on the defensive end."
Even Miles' magical offensive abilities fell victim to Golden State's defensive machine. The rookie struggled greatly in the matchup in Balhalla, recording 7 points and only making one field goal, which came in the fourth quarter. She shot a devastating 10% from the floor, and turned the ball over 6 times (including a careless throwaway at the end of the game that almost allowed the Valkyries to reclaim victory). For the first time, Miles looked like a rookie out there.
“Us and them are the two best defensive teams in the league, so what she saw is actual defense. She saw physicality… she needed a game like this, this was a tremendous growth point for her," said Coach Cheryl Reeve after the game. If Miles' previous success is any indicator, she will certainly find a way to adjust and be ready for the next time she has to face Williams and the Valkyries.
Miles still showed flashes of winning basketball
Despite Miles' unfortunate performance against Golden State, the Lynx managed to win the game 81-75, and the rookie played in a role in them doing so. She ended the game with 3 steals and 3 blocks, and was able to open the floor to allow Nia Coffey, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride to score at will.
Miles has already made a name for herself as a prolific driver, and in doing so, she attracted multiple defenders every time she made a move towards the basket, providing open looks for her teammates. Coffey shot an impressive 7-11 from the field and 3-4 from 3 on shots that simply wouldn't otherwise be open, especially against a team like the Valkyries.
The end of the game was a dog fight, with both teams trading daggers in the clutch, but Miles stepped up and sealed the game for Minnesota with a block on Cecilia Zandalasini, who led the Valkyries in scoring with 23 that night and who had already hit a 3 a few possessions earlier to keep her team in the game.
Reeve was proud of her rookie's performance in the end. "When things don’t go your way, how do you show up? [W]hat she showed is she’ll show up on the defensive end, a game sealing block...she didn't quit.”
Miles will certainly bounce back, but the Valkyries infused hope in the rest of the league by showing that the rookie is indeed a human capable of mistakes. What is scary, though, is the fact that the Lynx still managed to steal this one amidst her poor performance, and that she has the maturity to adjust in real time.
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