With teammates nearby, Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles was overwhelmed with emotion when receiving a surprise visit from her parents. On Monday, it was revealed that the 23-year-old rookie won the 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year unanimously. Miles probably had a strong feeling she would win, but not that her mother and father would make a surprise visit to let her know she'd won the award.
A video clip went online capturing some of the visit. Miles, also a first-time All-Star selection this season, became teary-eyed and moved her glasses up to wipe away tears in a video clip. Her teammates celebrated the big moment with her at a fancy restaurant.
In the clip, she hugged her father as he presented her with the award, then her mother, who handed her flowers to honor her as Rookie of the Year. More news: Caitlin Clark Calls Out ‘Sloppy’ Fever Performance After Playoff Loss to Aces Another WNBA video showed Miles delivering a speech in which she thanked her head coach, Cheryl Reeve, and her teammates. It made for a special moment, and it was certainly well deserved.
Miles, 23, was the No. 2 pick in the WNBA Draft after playing last season with TCU. Critics immediately contended that Minnesota made the best choice and that maybe the Dallas Wings should've selected Miles with the No. 1 pick instead of UConn star Azzi Fudd. She averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds, leading Minnesota to the league's best record.
For much of the first half of the season, she was the Lynx's leader, as their multi-time All-Star, Napheesa Collier, was still recovering from last season's injury. Because of her performance this season, Miles became a frontrunner not only for Rookie of the Year but also a strong contender for the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award. However, A'ja Wilson remains a strong favorite to win that award this season, which would be the record fifth time in her career that she has been named the league's MVP.
Miles and the Lynx are currently competing in the WNBA Playoffs but dropped Game 1 to Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty, 91-75. Minnesota can stave off elimination by tying things up 1-1 when Game 2 arrives on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 8:30 p.m. More news: A’ja Wilson Makes History With Major Award Ahead of WNBA Playoffs For more about the Minnesota Lynx and WNBA, visit Newsweek Sports.
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