A rookie star is changing everything for the WNBA’s No. 1 team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The latest WNBA Power Rankings are out, and while several teams continue to jockey for position in the Commissioner’s Cup race, one storyline is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
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The Minnesota Lynx remain the league’s top-ranked team. And a big reason why is rookie guard Olivia Miles.
Minnesota held onto the No. 1 spot in the latest rankings after a dominant opening week of Commissioner’s Cup play, improving to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in Cup competition. The Lynx not only sit atop the Western Conference standings, but they also own a staggering plus-57 point differential in Cup games, the best mark in the league.
While Minnesota’s veteran core continues to perform at a high level, Miles has emerged as one of the biggest reasons the Lynx are separating themselves from the rest of the WNBA.
Olivia Miles is turning heads across the league
The rookie’s breakout moment came during Minnesota’s lone close game of the week. Miles knocked down eight three-pointers against Chicago, setting a new WNBA record for most threes made in a single game by a rookie. She finished 8-for-11 from beyond the arc and once again showed why she has quickly become one of the league’s most exciting young stars.
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Her impact extends beyond scoring. Miles has provided Minnesota with another playmaker, another perimeter threat and another reason for opposing defenses to panic. Every week, she appears more comfortable operating within one of the WNBA’s most balanced rosters.
For a team that already had championship aspirations, that’s a scary development for the rest of the league.
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Minnesota is setting the standard
The Lynx have now won nine of their first 11 games and have looked every bit like a title contender. Their Commissioner’s Cup performance has been particularly impressive. Minnesota enters the week unbeaten in Cup play and currently controls its own path toward a potential championship-game appearance on June 30.
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The schedule won’t get any easier. The Lynx face the Dallas Wings on Tuesday before a marquee showdown against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday. Both opponents are currently ranked inside the top four of the latest power rankings.
Those games should provide an excellent measuring stick.
The rest of the WNBA is chasing Minnesota
The Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces round out the top four spots behind Minnesota, while the New York Liberty climbed to No. 5 after winning four straight games. But at least for now, the conversation begins with the Lynx.
They have the league’s best record. They have one of the deepest rosters in basketball. And now they have a rookie who is rapidly becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport. That’s a combination that has Minnesota looking every bit like the team to beat.
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