The Minnesota Lynx listed rookie phenom Olivia Miles as “probable” for Friday’s matchup against the Washington Mystics after she was injured during the team’s Wednesday game.
WNBA teams are required to submit a pregame status report at least 24 hours prior to tipoff. “Probable” typically indicates a 75% chance that a player will appear in the game, as opposed to “questionable” or “doubtful.”
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Lynx star Napheesa Collier, however, is listed as out for “rest” against the Mystics, which comes as the final stop on a four-game road trip. It will be Collier’s first missed game since she made her season debut on July 22 after undergoing two ankle surgeries this offseason.
Miles appeared to roll her ankle with 4:27 left in a win over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Aug. 19. She was defending Valkyries guard Veronica Burton when she awkwardly planted her foot and stepped on Collier’s foot. Miles limped to the baseline before falling to the ground in pain.
The 23-year-old point guard recorded 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds before she left the game.
“She has a maturity about her,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve told reporters in San Francisco. “That’s a rookie. It’s high stakes, and you know she is going to be targeted and part of the other team’s game plan.”
Miles also rolled her left ankle and exited in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks on July 15 and didn’t miss any subsequent games. She missed two games earlier in July due to a right calf strain.
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Miles is averaging a team-high 19.9 points and 6.2 assists per game, drawing MVP mentions along with her position as the leading Rookie of the Year candidate.
The Lynx (30-7) sit firmly at No. 1 in the league’s standings. They are 1-1 against the sixth place Washington Mystics (21-14) this season. Both games were played prior to Collier’s season debut.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Olivia Miles injury update: Lynx rookie’s status for Friday game after rolled ankle
