Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles was officially named the unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. She put together one of the most statistically dominant debut seasons in league history. Miles received all 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, becoming just the sixth player in WNBA history to win the award unanimously.
Selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft out of TCU and Notre Dame, Miles started all 40 regular-season appearances for the Lynx. She averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 31.0 minutes per contest. Her offensive efficiency anchored a Minnesota squad that secured a league-best 33-11 record and the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs.
Record-Breaking Debut Campaign
Miles wasted no time etching her name into the WNBA record books. She established a new all-time rookie scoring record with 790 total points, surpassing Caitlin Clark’s 2024 mark of 769 points. Additionally, Miles set a rookie record with 22 games scoring at least 20 points, breaking Seimone Augustus’ 2006 mark of 20.
Among rookies across WNBA history, Miles finished second in total assists with 239, third in scoring average, and fifth in assists per game. Her shooting splits reflected elite efficiency: she shot 49.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from three-point range, and 87.0 percent from the free-throw line. Throughout the regular season, she swept all four Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month awards and earned a starting nod for Team Spoon in the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago.
Cheryl Reeve Secures Coach of the Year Honors
Minnesota’s success extended beyond its young talent. Head coach Cheryl Reeve was named the 2026 WNBA Coach of the Year, claiming the honor for a record fifth time in her illustrious career. Reeve garnered 40 of the 74 media votes after guiding the Lynx through a challenging season that frequently saw the team play without injured MVP finalist Napheesa Collier.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase finished second in the voting with 20 votes, while Washington Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson placed third with 14 votes.
Historical Context of Unanimous Winners
With her unanimous selection, Miles joins an elite group of WNBA greats who swept every available ballot in their respective rookie seasons. The complete list of unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year recipients includes:
- Candace Parker (2008)
- Elena Delle Donne (2013)
- Tina Charles (2010)
- A’ja Wilson (2018)
- Aliyah Boston (2023)
- Olivia Miles (2026)
In honor of her achievement, Miles will receive a $15,000 cash prize and a specially designed commemorative trophy. As the Lynx navigate the postseason, Miles and her teammates remain focused on their ongoing playoff series against the New York Liberty in pursuit of the franchise’s fifth championship title.
