Olivia Miles did not ease into her first Commissioner's Cup showdown in Minneapolis. The Lynx rookie and No. 2 pick in April's WNBA draft drilled a WNBA rookie single-game record eight 3-pointers and piled up 28 points, powering Minnesota to an 87-84 win over the Golden State Valkyries at Target Center on Thursday night. Her outburst from deep, an 8-for-11 clinic from beyond the arc, turned a tight matchup into a showcase for her shooting touch and all-around energy.
Miles went 9-for-16 from the field overall and added seven assists, three blocks and just one turnover, while posting a game-best +14 plus-minus in only 28 minutes, according to StatMuse. She was responsible for eight of Minnesota's 13 made 3s and gave the Lynx enough cushion to withstand a late rally from Golden State.
Miles’ historic stat line
The eight made 3s broke the WNBA rookie single-game record and made Miles the only player in league history to record at least eight made 3s, seven assists, and three blocks in a single contest. She had entered the night having made just two of 18 attempts from long range, which made the sudden eruption even more dramatic, as reported by The New York Times. "She went crazy; she carried us in that first half," teammate Courtney Williams said on the broadcast, a line the Times noted in its recap.
From rookie honors to immediate impact
Minnesota was already riding Miles' early-season momentum. The team announced she was named Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month for May, and the Lynx had selected her with the No. 2 overall pick in April, according to a club release. The team also pointed out that she has scored in double figures in every game to begin her career, giving the Lynx a new offensive creator as they work through roster changes and injuries.
What this means for the Lynx
Thursday's performance turned Target Center into a stage for a budding star and pushed expectations higher for both Miles and the Lynx. Axios Twin Cities wrote that Miles has "taken the WNBA by storm" and suggested she is shaping up as a front-runner for Rookie of the Year. Opponents now have extra homework, with defensive game plans certain to prioritize running her off the 3-point line and testing how consistently she can deliver nights like this.
Closing take
For now, the win stands as a reminder that one explosive game can reshape a rookie's narrative and hint that Minnesota's rebuild could speed up if Miles keeps producing at this level. See the full box score at StatMuse.
