It was almost another routine evening for Olivia Miles and the Minnesota Lynx, who held an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries. The star rookie had already put up 20 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and two steals. But just when everything seemed to be going Minnesota’s way, the game took an unexpected turn in the final quarter.

With 4:37 remaining, Miles was defending Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton when she stepped on teammate Napheesa Collier’s foot and badly rolled her left ankle. She immediately went down in pain and was helped off the court before heading to the locker room. To make matters worse, Cheryl Reeve admitted she was still unsure about the extent of the injury.

The Minnesota Lynx later shared a clip of Reeve’s postgame press conference on their YouTube channel, where she confirmed that the rookie had twisted her ankle. “She did tweak it, but I don’t, I don’t have any idea where it’s at,” Reeve said. “I haven’t seen the play yet. So obviously we’re hoping that she’s okay.”

This is a big concern for Cheryl Reeve, as Miles has already hurt the same left ankle once this season. She rolled it during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks in July and had to leave the game before later returning to the bench. Now, with the same ankle causing problems again so late in the season, the Lynx will be hoping it is nothing serious, as she has been a key player for the team all season.

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Miles is in the midst of one of the most historically impressive rookie campaigns the WNBA has ever seen, leading the Rookie of the Year race and firmly in the MVP conversation, averaging 19.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game across 34 games. She has been a central and irreplaceable force for a Minnesota Lynx team that currently sits at 30-7 and at the very top of the league standings.

With just seven games left before the playoffs, the injury to Miles could not have come at a worse time. The scars from last season, when Napheesa Collier’s injury ultimately cost the Lynx their title hopes, are still fresh, and fans will not want to see a repeat of that. However, there were a couple of positive signs.

Encouraging Sign Emerges After Olivia Miles’ Ankle Injury

Even if Olivia Miles does not suit up for the Lynx’s upcoming game against the Washington Mystics, the league is fast approaching a 17-day FIBA Women’s World Cup break beginning August 31.

That window gives her more than enough time to rest, recover, and return to full health before the games that matter most begin. And there was already an encouraging sign after the game.

After the game, the Minnesota Lynx shared a reel on Instagram showing the players walking back to the locker room. Olivia Miles could be seen walking on her own, without any protective strapping or a noticeable limp, and appeared to be in high spirits.

She made the effort to join the postgame press conference, where she sat alongside other journalists and even asked Kayla McBride about her “Night Night” celebration in front of more than 18,000 fans at Chase Center, which clearly did not go down well with the home crowd.

That chemistry has been a big part of what has made Minnesota so formidable this season.

Why Minnesota Is the Team to Beat

No one expected the Lynx to be in this position, especially after losing the likes of Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith, Bridget Carleton, DiJonai Carrington, and Natisha Hiedeman, while also starting the season without Napheesa Collier.

But despite all of that, Cheryl Reeve’s side became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. A big part of their success has been Olivia Miles, who moved past Paige Bueckers for the third-most points by a rookie in WNBA history after her performance against the Valkyries.

The 77-66 win over the Valkyries was further proof of why the Lynx deserve to be where they are right now. They shot 50% from the field against the league’s best defensive team while also scoring 30 points in the paint, showing that this has not been a one-woman show.

Miles has had plenty of support on offense from Kayla McBride, who is averaging 18.3 points per game while shooting 42.4% from three-point range.

With Phee sidelined, Natasha Howard has stepped up in the frontcourt, averaging 14.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 57.1% from the field. Courtney Williams has been just as important in the backcourt, contributing 14.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.

That collective effort has helped the Lynx post the league’s best net rating at 10.6, while also ranking second in offensive rating and third in defensive rating.

With Collier now back, the Lynx have a starting five that all average double-digit points per game and can make a strong case for being the most complete lineup in the league.

Miles’ injury has put a cloud over what had been a dream season for the Lynx. But with the early signs looking positive, Cheryl Reeve will be hoping this is nothing more than a scare and that her rookie is back on the court before the playoffs begin.