Updated

Updated · ESPN · Aug 20

Olivia Miles Hurts Left Ankle After 20-Point Lynx Win, Sets Rookie Marks at 696 Points

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Aug 20

Olivia Miles Hurts Left Ankle After 20-Point Lynx Win, Sets Rookie Marks at 696 Points

Q: Why was Olivia Miles smiling after suffering a potentially devastating ankle injury against the Valkyries?

Olivia Miles appeared to be smiling because she was in relatively good spirits after the injury, which suggested cautious optimism rather than proof that the ankle was fine. After rolling her left ankle when she stepped on Napheesa Collier’s foot in the fourth quarter, Miles stayed down in visible pain, went briefly to the locker room, then returned to the bench. Postgame reports described her as upbeat, smiling and even joking with teammate Kayla McBride despite a slight limp. That demeanor was one of the few encouraging signs available immediately after the game, since coach Cheryl Reeve said there was no official update and did not yet know the severity. The smile likely reflected that Miles was able to leave under her own power and rejoin the team, and that Minnesota had closed out a key 77-66 win. It also fit the tone of a player coming off another brilliant performance: 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while continuing a historic rookie season. Still, her reaction should not be overread. The same left ankle had reportedly been rolled earlier in the season, so the concern remained real even if she looked positive afterward. In short, Miles was smiling because she seemed relieved and upbeat in the moment, but there was no medical confirmation yet that the injury was minor.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Aug 20

Midway through the fourth quarter, Olivia Miles tweaked her left ankle after stepping on Napheesa Collier's foot in Minnesota's 77-66 win over Golden State, stayed down for several minutes and did not return.
20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, plus 7 assists and 5 rebounds, had already put Miles at the center of the game before the injury; coach Cheryl Reeve said afterward she had no update.
696 career points moved the No. 2 pick past A'ja Wilson and Paige Bueckers for third-most by a WNBA rookie, while her 19.9 scoring average remains on pace for the third-best rookie mark.
Minnesota led by as many as 22 and held Golden State to 24.3% shooting in the first half; after the Valkyries cut the gap to seven during a 17-2 run, Kayla McBride's 20 points helped seal it.
The Lynx improved to 9-0 against Golden State since last season and moved 4.5 games clear of the Valkyries for first place ahead of Monday's rematch in Minnesota.