Lynx’s Olivia Miles is already becoming Minnesota’s leader originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Olivia Miles is winning over the veterans in the Minnesota Lynx locker room.
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How could she not?
Amid lower-than-usual expectations for the Lynx after an offseason of change — not to mention a long-term injury to MVP candidate Napheesa Collier — Miles has stepped in to a massive role with one of the WNBA’s most successful franchises.
And she is flourishing.
MORE: Olivia Miles already doing something no WNBA rookie has done since Sue Bird and Candace Parker
Miles on Thursday scored 15 points and dished out six assists as the Lynx held off the Dallas Wings, 90-86, to go to 2-1 on the young season.
It meant Miles, the second overall pick in last month’s draft, became just the fifth player in WNBA history to average 15 points and five assists through their first three games. The others? Sue Bird, Caitlin Clark, Candace Parker and Nikki McCray.
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Miles, whose playmaking at TCU and Notre Dame dazzled fans across the country, has 21 total assists in three games. That is tied for the fourth-highest total in any WNBA player’s first three career games.
With Collier out for another couple of months at least, the Lynx have been mightily impressed with Miles’ leadership and immediate production.
“She’s doing a hell of a job,” All-Star guard Courtney Williams said Thursday night. “She’s the captain of the ship, so for her to be a rookie coming in and doing what she’s doing, that girl is gonna be a problem.”
Miles already is outshining Azzi Fudd, who went first overall to the Wings. When Collier returns later this season, just imagine how much more dangerous the Lynx will be if this young, retooled group is good enough to score road wins in Dallas and Phoenix.
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