KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Olivia Miles was at T-Cell Middle seven weeks in the past taking part in within the Large 12 event for TCU. Monday, she returned to the court docket because the WNBA’s No. 2 draft decide taking part in for the Minnesota Lynx. It is a huge soar to the professionals, however Miles is prepared.
In Minnesota’s 88-79 exhibition victory towards Nigeria on Monday, Miles had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes. She is anticipated to get quite a lot of taking part in time as a rookie level guard for the Lynx, who completed first within the WNBA final 12 months however misplaced some key gamers within the offseason and have star ahead Napheesa Collier out till no less than June after left ankle surgical procedure.
“I feel I am on this place for a motive,” Miles mentioned. “Clearly, [coach Cheryl Reeve] sees one thing in me and believes in me. She wouldn’t have me on the market if she did not suppose I may do it. So, yeah, it is a privilege.”
Then, she added with a smile, “It’s important to take a look at it by way of a constructive lens, or else I am going to stress myself out.”
Reeve, who’s coming into her seventeenth season in Minnesota because the longest-tenured coach within the WNBA, mentioned Miles is the form of participant the Lynx love: one who fills up a field rating. In her school profession — spent at Notre Dame till her senior season at TCU — Miles averaged 15.3 factors, 6.5 assists and 6.3 rebounds, and had 12 triple-doubles.
“She’s not only a scorer, she’s not only a passer,” Reeve mentioned. “When you may have a guard that is going to be a triple-double risk each time she performs, that is a reasonably particular participant.”
Olivia Miles is anticipated to see quite a lot of taking part in time as a rookie level guard for the Lynx. “I feel I am on this place for a motive,” Miles mentioned. Amy Kontras/NBAE through Getty Photographs
The Lynx went 34-10 final season and superior to the semifinals however misplaced two starters and two key reserves to the growth draft and free company. The one returning starter who performed Monday was guard Courtney Williams (17 factors), with Collier and guard Kayla McBride (relaxation) on the bench.
Additionally on the Minnesota bench is assistant coach Lindsay Whalen, a Naismith Corridor of Famer who gained 4 WNBA titles with the Lynx as their level guard. Reeve mentioned there could not be a greater mentor for Miles than Whalen, the No. 4 decide by the Connecticut Solar in 2004 who additionally began as a rookie.
“There’s ups and downs that go together with that,” Reeve mentioned. “So, I feel Whalen’s journey is de facto going to be useful to Liv.”
Miles added, “[Whalen] has been an unbelievable useful resource for me. Clearly, one of many greats. She’s so educated concerning the recreation, clearly, about Cheryl’s system, and what she needs and the way she needs to execute it.
“I’ve simply been making an attempt to be a sponge round her as a lot as I can. Clearly, my defensive depth and energy must be upped. I am all the time making an attempt to get higher at every thing.”
Miles had eight factors in Minnesota’s first exhibition, a 77-66 victory over the Washington Mystics on Saturday. The Lynx end exhibition play Friday towards the Toronto Tempo in Minneapolis after which begin the common season Might 10 at dwelling towards the Atlanta Dream.