Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is a four-time WNBA Coach of the Year, four-time WNBA champion, and newly inducted member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for a reason.
Reeve painted a coaching masterpiece in 2025, as the Lynx posted a franchise-best record of 34-10, but they fell short of capturing their first title since 2017. All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, the face of the franchise, tore three ligaments in her ankle in the WNBA semifinals against Phoenix last September, so who knows what could have been.
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But what Reeve has done with the Lynx so far this season is even more impressive.
Collier is still recovering from two offseason ankle surgeries and should start on-court activities in the coming days, according to the team. But the Lynx are a league-best 7-2 without her because rookie second overall pick Olivia Miles has been a historic-level buoy — and Reeve has known exactly how to scheme around her new point guard.
Miles posted 21 points and eight assists in the Lynx’s season opener and became the fifth-ever player to record 20-plus points and five-plus assists in a WNBA debut alongside Candace Parker, Cynthia Cooper, Tonya Edwards, and Dawn Staley.
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Most recently, in Minnesota’s 111-77 win over Phoenix on Monday, Miles leaped to the top of the Lynx’s franchise history books.
“Olivia Miles has scored in double-figures in all nine games to start the season, tying the longest streak by a Lynx rookie in franchise history with Seimone Augustus and Tonya Edwards,” ESPN Insights posted on X.
Miles had 13 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting in the first half and finished the game with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field, nine assists, four rebounds, and three steals. According to StatMuse, Miles is the first rookie in WNBA history to post those numbers while shooting 75%.
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But All-Star guard Courtney Williams’ game-high 30 points on 13-for-20 shooting from the field is the more telling — and encouraging — stat line for the Lynx. Miles’ stature as a pure point guard has allowed Williams to slide back into her more natural position as a shooting guard.
Once a healthy and motivated Collier returns to the starting five, the Lynx will be every bit the title contender they were a year ago. And Miles may be the difference-maker come autumn.
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