NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2026 – Olivia Miles, guard for the Minnesota Lynx, has been unanimously awarded the 2026 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, as announced by the WNBA. She received all 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
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Miles started in all 40 games this season, averaging 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. Her shooting percentages were impressive, recording 49.2% from the field, 38.8% from three-point range, and 87.0% from the free throw line.
She set WNBA rookie records with a total of 790 points, exceeding Caitlin Clark’s previous record of 769 points from 2024, and achieved 22 games with at least 20 points, surpassing Seimone Augustus’ 20 in 2006. Throughout her rookie season, Miles ranked second in total assists, behind Clark, and third in scoring average among all rookies.
Under Miles' leadership, the Lynx finished the regular season with a 33-11 record, earning the top seed in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel. They are currently in pursuit of their fifth WNBA championship, facing the New York Liberty in a first-round series, which they trail 1-0.
Originally from Phillipsburg, N.J., Miles played her collegiate basketball at TCU and Notre Dame. She won the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month award four times during the regular season and was selected as a starter for Team Spoon in the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game in July. Selected second overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft by Minnesota, she led all rookies in several categories including points, field goals made, defensive rebounds, and assists.
This season, she ranked seventh in assists per game, eighth in points per game, and ninth in total points and assists among all players. Furthermore, she set Lynx franchise records for rookie scoring, assists, and three-point field goals made.
Miles's achievements this season include becoming the 11th rookie in WNBA history to be an All-Star starter, earning the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week award twice, and setting multiple rookie records across various performance metrics. She also achieved milestones such as the fastest player in league history to reach 500 points and 150 assists in 26 games, breaking the record previously held by Bueckers.
For her accomplishment as Rookie of the Year, Miles will receive a $15,000 prize along with a trophy. A complete list of past Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year winners is included.