Olivia Miles says ‘I’m just grateful to be back in Dallas’ ahead of Wings game
Olivia Miles talked about being back in Dallas Fort-Worth, her performance this season and why she thinks she’s become a fan favorite so early in her career.
Miles was talking pregame before the Minnesota Lynx and Dallas Wings played Sunday at College Park Center — a matchup the TCU product has dominated this season.
Against the Wings this season Miles has averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on a scorching 64% shooting. The New Jersey native said she was happy to be back in DFW.
“I’m just grateful, first of all, to be back in Dallas, in front of my people. I just texted my coach,[TCU head coach] Mark [Campbell], that I missed Texas a lot, and just being back here, it’s so great,” said Miles.
Campbell was in attendance at the game with the TCU women’s basketball team, and they participated in a T-shirt toss with the Wings dancers.
The Wings know Miles is a handful and superstar Paige Bueckers talked about how difficult it’s been to slow her down.
The matchup with the Wings also features the top two picks from the 2026 WNBA draft with Miles and Azzi Fudd.
“Not really [focused on the matchup with No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd], I mean, that’s obviously what the league and what people are going to make it about. I’m happy where I’m at, I’m very lucky to be in Minnesota, and I love to compete against anyone, so yeah, just excited for the matchup,” Miles said..
The Wings are far from the only team that Miles has dominated and the guard is the runaway favorite for WNBA Rookie of the Year and has even garnered MVP consideration for her hot start.
Averaging 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, BetMGM has Miles (-5000) as the favorite to win ROY and fourth in MVP odds.
Coming into her rookie season some thought defense would be a weak point in her game, but she’s instead flourished.
“Everyone says I can’t play defense, which is funny,” said Miles, “You won’t play in Cheryl [Reeve’s] system if you don’t step up on defense, and she’s teaching me a lot of new things, and how to be active on that end, but yeah, I’ve always been able to kind of read plays the way I do on offense on defense, and use my cues to get some steals and blocks, but just applying myself more and being more focused on that end.”
Miles is averaging 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game for a Lynx team that has the best defensive rating (97.5) in the league. The only guards in the league with more blocks than Miles this season are the Wings Fudd and the Seattle Storm’s Flau’jae Johnson.
Miles’ has become a near constant highlight every night with ex-players like Kevin Garnett lavishing praise on her. Just how has she become so popular so fast?
“I mean, just beyond me, it means that women’s basketball is growing. I think we’re reaching new audiences. I think the NBA players are catching on now, not that they haven’t before, but even more so now into watching our game and seeing how fun it can be and how different it is to their play style,” said Miles. “I think obviously it’s the flair and the flash I play with. I think also what I’ve been seeing a lot of is just the way I look and like my hair and goggles and like just the way I present myself has attracted a lot of people, which is cool. It shows a unique side of me.”
Only 18 games into her WNBA career, Miles talked about how she’s fulfilled her role in clutch time during her rookie season.
“It’s really important, especially as a point guard, you know. I’ve had my fair share of mistakes, for example, Washington game, I turned the ball over at the end, but I think I’ve shown enough that I can be trusted in those moments,” said Miles. “I got it back the last Washington game we had and was able to execute down the stretch. But yeah, it’s a learning curve. I think late game is really important because the margin of error in this league is very slim, and yeah, you just have to make the right plays and be willing to take risks and be smart down the stretch.”
Miles has been just that against the Wings, winning both of her matchups against the team to start the season, the second game a 100-76 blowout, and continued her hot play in the team’s 85-77 win over the Wings on Sunday at College Park Center.
Miles got off to a slow shooting start (1 for 6 in the first half) only making one of her first five buckets but came on shooting wise in the second half going 5 for 7 from the field.
She ended the game with 19 points, two rebounds and eight assists and helped to secure the Lynx’s fifth win in their past six games.
