Olivia Miles has first dud as pro, but Lynx see chance to grow - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — For the first time in her WNBA career, Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles didn't have it.

Just one game after setting her career high in scoring, Miles was held to a season-low seven points on 1-of-10 shooting Friday night against the Golden State Valkyries, needing her veteran teammates to help lead the Lynx to an 81-75 win.

But, according to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, the off night wasn't a bad thing.

«She needed a game like this,» Reeve said of Miles. «This was a tremendous growth point for her. When things don't go your way, how do you show up?»

After Golden State's Cecilia Zandalasini made a 3-pointer to bring the Valkyries within two with 21.8 seconds remaining, Miles made two free throws and then sealed the victory by blocking Zandalasini's 3-point attempt on the next play.

Miles became the third rookie in franchise history to record three steals and three blocks in a game, joining Napheesa Collier and Rashanda McCants.

Reeve credited the Valkyries' defense for stifling Miles on offense.

«She saw physicality, she saw aggressive trapping — they play hard and they fly around, they protect the paint,» Reeve said. «It would have been easy to be frustrated, but we are not going to hide from this. We are going to stand right in this and keep working and see what we can find. The gravity to her was terrific for the rest of our team.… Maybe her numbers weren't gaudy, but the impact she still had on the game was tremendous.»

Lynx veterans Courtney Williams, Nia Coffey and Kayla McBride led the way for Minnesota. Coffey finished with a team-high 22 points, while Williams had 21 points and 12 rebounds for her first 20-point double-double since August 2024.

«I've been doing this for a little minute now — a long