No one imagined the Minnesota Lynx to be at the top of the league without Napheesa Collier. But it seems they have replaced one MVP candidate with another. Olivia Miles has been one of the best players in the league ever since she stepped into the WNBA. And after a stellar performance against the Dallas Wings, veteran Collier gave a simple reason why the team has been successful. 

“I think we have offense and defense,” she said while giving the rookie the Commissioners Cup crown. “Everyone is still working hard, and we have Olivia Miles.”

It was Miles’ sixth consecutive game with at least 15 points and 5 assists. That is the second-longest streak for a rookie, tying Caitlin Clark, according to ESPN Insights. The longest streak is also held by Clark herself.

The Lynx won 100-76. But Miles dropped another masterclass with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists while going 7-10 from the field and 2-3 from the three-point line.

She dissected the Wings’ defense with ease, commanding the Lynx to their second highest-scoring performance of the season and their 8th straight victory. It goes without saying that Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve is quite pleased.

“She’s special,” Reeve said postgame about Miles. “We’ve had, obviously, good teams, legendary teams, but it’s a different time now. And there’s an awareness. I’m hearing from people talking about our team, obviously talking about the rookie. That is palpable.”

Miles is averaging all-around numbers of 17.2 points, 5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. She is 13th in the league in scoring and 6th in assists while being 10th in steals. If she keeps these averages up for the entire season, Miles is on track to become just the second rookie after Caitlin Clark to average more than 15 points, 5 rebounds, and assists per game. 

She might just lead them to one of the best seasons in their history. And the Rookie Of The Year might just be another footnote on her CV.

Olivia Miles jumps ahead as the Rookie Of The Year after outshining No. 1 pick

Olivia Miles needed little help going up against Azzi Fudd. Miles had a point to prove as she crossed up Fudd, leaving her searching for a triple. In their head-to-head matchup, Fudd failed to shine, scoring just 6 points while going 2-12 from the field on the day. Miles was already the favorite in the Rookie Of The Year race, but this game really highlighted the gap between the two. 

So far, Fudd is averaging 12 points and 1.2 assists per game, and Miles is ahead of her. 

Napheesa Collier commented on one of Miles ‘ Instagram posts, writing, “ROY.” Similarly, many see Miles winning the award in the future. 

On the other hand, Fudd is still figuring out her place in the Wings offense and her volume. She has just recently entered the starting lineup, and with time, things can still shift.

Fudd has shown how she can change the Dallas Wings with her perimeter defense and shooting. However, for now, Miles remains firmly ahead in the race.