Lynx’s Olivia Miles went deep into her bag to win showdown of WNBA’s top two teams originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The top highlight from Wednesday night’s showdown between the Minnesota Lynx and the Golden State Valkyries is something Golden State‘s Janelle Salaun will not want to see again.
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Olivia Miles, Minnesota’s superstar rookie, crossed up Salaun into oblivion before she nailed a key 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s clash.
The Lynx went into San Francisco and won this battle of the WNBA’s top two teams. Miles scored 20 points to move into third on the league’s all-time rookie scoring list, and Minnesota beat Golden State, 77-66, in a battle of two elite defenses.
Miles though was the separator — as she has been all season for the 30-7 Lynx.
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Miles and Kayla McBride led all scorers with 20 points each. Miles became the first player in league history to drop at least 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four stocks while shooting 80 percent from the floor.
One behind-the-back assist on a McBride 3-pointer once again showcased Miles’ flair and confidence, traits that have been there since her first day in the WNBA.
Miles rolled her ankle with 4:37 left in the game and did not return, though she was seen on the bench with her teammates when the final buzzer sounded.
As Minnesota inches closer to securing the top overall seed and home-court advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs, head coach Cheryl Reeve will want to offer strategic rest to her stars in preparation for another long postseason run.
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The Lynx have not won the WNBA championship since 2017. They also haven’t had a player quite like Miles since then.
If Minnesota keeps her healthy, the Lynx will have every chance in a couple of months to win their fifth title — which would see them stand alone in WNBA history.
