The 28-Point Bomb Olivia Miles Dropped on Golden State and What It Means for the WNBA's MVP Race
Alright, you guys, get ready because tonight is going to be a absolute FIREFIGHT! We've got the Minnesota Lynx rolling into San Francisco to face off against the Golden State Valkyries, and if you saw their first battle, you know exactly what I'm talking about. These two teams, who both *barely* missed out on representing the Western Conference in the Commissioner's Cup, are looking to take out some serious frustration, and it's a rematch of an 87-84 barn burner that the Lynx snagged at home earlier this season. But the real story? It’s all about one player who absolutely detonated on the Valkyries last time around.
Olivia Miles Is Already Playing on Another Planet
Seriously, this rookie is something else. When the Lynx first squared off against Golden State, Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick, went absolutely HAM. She torched the Valkyries for a jaw-dropping 28 points, and get this, mostly on the strength of a WNBA-rookie-best 8-for-11 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc! Eight threes! Are you kidding me?! She wasn't just scoring, either, dropping seven assists and even blocking Veronica Burton's shot, finishing with three blocks on the night. Burton, for her part, had eight points on 3-for-8 shooting, but Miles definitely won that star point guard duel.
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Miles isn't slowing down, folks. Since that game, she’s dropped 29 points in a super tight loss to Las Vegas, a game that actually cost the Lynx (who are 12-3, by the way) a Commissioner's Cup tie-breaker. And then, just this past Wednesday against the LA Sparks, she went off for a season-best 31 points in a win that now has the Lynx tied with the Aces for the West's top record in the in-season tournament. This early flurry of absolute dominance has rocketed Miles to the top of the Rookie of the Year race, and yeah, she's firmly on the league's Most Valuable Player watch list. But what does she say about all the MVP talk? "It honestly just means that our team's doing really well, which is what I'm most proud of. Whether I win awards or not, I'm still the same me." Talk about keeping it humble, even when you're setting the league on fire!
Can Golden State's Defense Finally Slow Down Miles?
Now, while Miles has been lighting up scoreboards, Golden State’s defense has been playing lights-out lately. The Valkyries (10-5) are riding a four-game winning streak, and they've been shutting down some of the league's best. Earlier this week, they held Kelsey Plum to a measly nine points on 3-for-10 shooting in a huge 20-point home win over the Sparks. Then, against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday, they limited Paige Bueckers to just 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting in a 91-80 victory. You gotta give props to backup point guard Kaitlyn Chen, a total fan favorite out there, who's been a huge part of those defensive game plans, especially against Plum and Dallas' Azzi Fudd. Fudd, in her Bay Area debut, struggled big time with 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase raved about Chen, saying, "I think Kaitlyn has fun because she prepares so much. Behind the scenes, the preparation, from reading a scout, to watching film. ... When she steps on the court, it's like her playground." So, the question for tonight, Emerald City faithful, is whether this red-hot Valkyries defense, especially with Chen leading the charge, can do what they couldn't last time: contain Olivia Miles. Miles and the Lynx are wrapping up a two-game trip, and this rematch has everything. Can Miles continue her MVP-caliber run, or will Golden State finally find a way to cool her off? Get ready for tip-off, because this one is going to be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.