Miles making legitimate MVP push following signature win over Liberty

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Olivia Miles making legitimate MVP push following signature win over Liberty

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Jul 11, 2026 4:20 PM ET

Minnesota Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles is making it look too easy. So easy, in fact, that awards voters may not have many tough decisions to make when casting ballots at the end of the season.

The presumptive Rookie of the Year continued to flesh out a compelling MVP case in Saturday's 90-85 home win over the New York Liberty (13-10) as the Lynx improved the 17-6, the WNBA's best record. Miles had 23 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-7 on three-pointers, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

This season, the 2026 draft's No. 2 overall pick is averaging 18.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. According to ESPN Insights, Miles is the fastest player to 350 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in league history. Per Stathead research, she's only the fourth player regardless of experience to reach those benchmarks in the first 21 games of the season, joining all-time great Angel McCoughtry (2013), New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (2022), Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (2024) and Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (2024).

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles bolsters MVP candidacy in win over New York Liberty

Olivia Miles is the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 350 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists (21 games) pic.twitter.com/wfZudDxll5
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) July 11, 2026

Miles' fantastic season has made her a runaway favorite for the WNBA's Rookie of the Year honors, but her performance on the league's best team reveals a player deserving of much more.

On June 19, WNBA.com shared MVP odds, and Miles was a distant fourth (+1200), behind four-time MVP Aces center A'ja Wilson (-200), Wings guard Paige Bueckers (+700) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (+700). She's closed the gap in the weeks since, currently ranking third (+900) and closer to second-place Buckers (+750) than Clark in fourth (+1500).

With sustained production throughout the second half of the regular season, Miles could close the gap in odds and — more importantly — the minds of voters. She's played a pivotal role in the Lynx surviving star Napheesa Collier's absence while recovering from injury, turning what could have been a down season into one full of potential.

Miles has looked like anything but a rookie while taking the WNBA by storm, making her a legitimate candidate to become just the second to win MVP and first since Candace Parker (2008). It would be foolish to put a cap on what Miles can accomplish this season. Having already blown past expectations, everything is on the table.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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