Cheryl Reeve called out Olivia Miles’ defense on draft night. In nearly every mock draft, Miles’ defense was highlighted as the single point of failure. “Bring your defense, y’all, bring your defense,” Reeve told Miles, who responded, “I’ll pack it in my bag. ” Now, after training camp and 3 pro games, Miles has revealed the reality of playing under Reeve.
Early in training camp, Miles was pleasantly surprised by Cheryl Reeve, who revealed she expected more intensity. However, over time, Miles has come to understand how Reeve really is and seemingly loves it.
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“Everyone was saying she’s a tough coach, but actually experiencing her now, I don’t think she’s as tough as people make her out to be. I think it depends on the person and how you react to hard coaching,” Miles said on Bird’s Eye View. Bird further asked whether Reeve had given Miles the piece of her mind. To which she answered, “Oh yeah, she’s yelled at me. She yelled at me in the preseason game. She doesn’t care, and I love that.”
Reeve remains one of the WNBA’s most unfiltered coaches. Whether that is towards her players, the officials, or the media, she speaks her mind. That is one of the reasons the WNBA fined her $15,000 after she rushed onto the court and criticized the officials last year. Reeve describes herself as “fiery and edgy.” She herself revealed that she had given Miles a reality check at the camp.
“We spent a week together, and then after the first game, we spent a couple of hours together. Very few of the minutes were actually spent watching video. It was actually more just sharing information about different hall of fame players and their paths,” Reeve revealed. “This isn’t easy,” she told Miles.
“I expected a little worse, so I guess great. She’s been in my ear positively, telling me to take care of the ball, look for reads, wait for my timing, and get my spacing right,” Miles had previously said in a training camp press conference.
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This can break some players, leaving them in their own shells. But it can flower the best out of some, too. For Miles, this method has worked. In three games in charge of the floor for the Lynx, the rookie is averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 4 rebounds while leading them to a 2-1 record.
Her totals stand at 49 points and 21 assists, making her only the fifth player in the history of the league to average over 15 points and 5 assists in the first 3 WNBA games. She joined Nikki McCray, Candace Parker, Bird, and Clark for that record.
More importantly, those aren’t just empty numbers, as she delivered in clutch moments in that Wings game. She led the Lynx to a 12-point comeback. And just as Reeve is strict, she also gives her players the credit when they deserve it.
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“When the game was in the balance, the rookie took over,” Reeve said. “Miles was incredible; making her reads and doing simple things for her gave us momentum. It really gave us that jolt. They were all gassed.”
So, it works both ways with the feisty but forgiving Cheryl Reeve. But playing under Reeve and at a franchise that wants to challenge for the title, Olivia Miles has one goal that goes beyond just the Rookie of the Year.
Rookie Of The Year Not The Priority As Olivia Miles Reveals Her Primary Goal
For the last four seasons, the No. 1 pick has run away with the Rookie Of The Year. Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers all had standout rookie seasons that made them almost a guaranteed ROTY. But 2026 is different. Olivia Miles is currently the favorite to win the ROTY over the No. 1 pick, Azzi Fudd.
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While Miles is dazzling for the Lynx, Fudd is coming off the bench for the Wings and averaging 5.5 points a game. It’s still early, and the tide can change at any time. For now, Miles is ahead. Yet she has goals that go beyond Rookie of the Year, prioritizing growth over glory.
“I want to go for Rookie of the Year, I want to make an All-Star team. I want to have those clear visions and goals that I know I’m capable of,” Miles said. “But my biggest goal this year is learning. I want to be in the league for a long time, soaking up everything I can and focusing on team success because I know that’s what will ultimately bring me success as well.”
And she is getting that a lot with the Lynx, as Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and even Napheesa Collier can guide the rookie. “She’s the captain of the ship, so for her to be a rookie coming in and doing what she’s doing, that girl gonna be a problem, I’ve been sayin it,” Williams said.
The Lynx team has also lost a lot in the offseason, needing Miles to step up for the team. However, more obstacles await Miles as opponents improve their scouting reports and analyze her game.
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