Olivia Miles' Injury-Marred Milestone Night Fuels Lynx Victory Over Valkyries

Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, entered her sophomore season as Minnesota’s starting point guard. Early in her rookie campaign she surpassed A’ja Wilson and Paige Bueckers for the third-most points by a first-year player in league history and was on pace for a 19.9-point average, trailing only Seimone Augustus (21.9 in 2006) and Wilson (20.7 in 2018).

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In a late-summer matchup at the Chase Center, the Minnesota Lynx built a sizable lead against the Golden State Valkyries before holding on for a 77-66 win. Miles contributed 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and added seven assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Midway through the fourth quarter she twisted her left ankle after stepping on teammate Napheesa Collier’s foot, limped off the court, and did not return.

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• Olivia Miles: 20 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds; 80 % shooting overall, 3-point shooting 3-of-4.

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• Team shooting: Lynx shot 8-of-10 on Miles’ attempts; Valkyries shot 24.3 % in the first half, scoring only 28 points (their season-low half).

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• Defensive impact: Lynx held a 22-point lead at one point; Valkyries cut the margin to seven after a 17-2 run but could not overcome the deficit.

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• Historical edge: Minnesota now 9-0 against Golden State since the prior season and leads the Western Conference by 4½ games.

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• Rookie milestones: Miles tied for third-most 20-point games by a rookie (six) and became the third rookie with multiple 20-point games on 80 % shooting, matching Tamika Catchings (2002) for the second-most such performances.

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Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve expressed concern for Miles’ health, noting the team hoped she would be “OK.”

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Witnesses observed Miles limp to the baseline after the ankle twist, receive assistance from the Lynx training staff, and return to the bench area before exiting the game. She did not speak to reporters post-game but participated in the press conference, asking McBride about the Curry gesture.

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Miles’ performance reinforced her status as a premier rookie talent despite the injury, keeping Minnesota’s offensive engine active while the team’s defense continued to dominate. The win solidified the Lynx’s lead atop the Western Conference and extended their unbeaten streak against Golden State, a factor that could influence playoff seeding. Miles’ injury, however, introduces uncertainty for the Lynx’s backcourt depth as the season progresses.

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The Lynx and Valkyries are scheduled to meet again later in the week in Minnesota, offering Miles a chance to return and the Lynx an opportunity to extend their conference lead.

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• “Obviously we are hoping she's OK,” — Cheryl Reeve, lynx coach

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• “She has a maturity about her,” — Cheryl Reeve, lynx coach

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• “We have been one of the better defensive teams, but Golden State sort of holds the badge for the best defensive team in a few metrics,” — Cheryl Reeve, lynx coach

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• “Not anymore. I'm still like, I don't know,” — Kayla McBride

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• “I'm still surprised. That backwards pass was nice,” — Napheesa Collier

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