There’s already a clear WNBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner
Olivia Miles has been the WNBA’s best rookie in the season’s early days.
May 9, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) works around Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) during the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images We’re not even a week into the WNBA season, but there’s already a clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. That’s Olivia Miles, who was drafted No.
2 overall by the Minnesota Lynx after a standout collegiate career that included four years at Notre Dame and one at TCU. Miles was incredible in her WNBA debut on Saturday, a 91-90 loss to the Atlanta Dream. She recorded 21 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, showing glimpses of blossoming into a future superstar for a Lynx team that lost half of its rotation this past offseason.
Olivia Miles tonight 🔥 • 21 points • 8 assists • 2 blocks • 2 steals pic. twitter. com/7DD8W1APlQ — Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 10, 2026 She followed the opener up with another strong performance in her second game, a 13-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist outing in a win against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night.
It’s incredibly early in the season — too early for legitimate Rookie of the Year conversations — but it’s very clear that Miles for Rookie of the Year is a very plausible, and perhaps even a likely scenario. “She’s gonna be a heck of a player in our league,” said Mercury head coach Nate Thibbets before Tuesday’s game. “One game under her belt, but she’s a generational passer.