Olivia Miles has capped a remarkable first season in the WNBA by being unanimously named the 2026 Kia Rookie of the Year, receiving all 74 votes from the national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The Minnesota Lynx guard becomes just the sixth unanimous winner of the award in league history, joining an elite group that includes Candace Parker, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston.
Miles’ achievement was backed by a season that immediately placed her among the WNBA’s most productive young players. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2026 draft started all 40 games in which she appeared, averaging 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 49.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from three-point range and 87 percent from the free-throw line. She also led all rookies in scoring, assists and several other major statistical categories.
The guard’s season became even more significant because of the records she established along the way. Miles finished with 790 points, surpassing Caitlin Clark’s previous WNBA rookie scoring record of 769 points set in 2024. She also recorded 22 games with at least 20 points, breaking Seimone Augustus’ previous rookie mark of 20, while becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 500 points and 150 assists. Her consistency earned her all four Rookie of the Month awards during the regular season.
Beyond the individual numbers, Miles played an important role in Minnesota’s outstanding regular season. The Lynx finished 33-11 and secured the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs, with Miles emerging as a major part of their offensive attack. She was also selected as an All-Star starter, becoming the 11th rookie in WNBA history to receive that distinction. Her ability to score while creating opportunities for teammates gave Minnesota another dynamic playmaker during a season in which the team established itself as one of the league’s strongest regular-season sides.
The unanimous award now gives Miles a major individual milestone to celebrate while the Lynx remain focused on their playoff campaign. Minnesota entered the postseason pursuing a fifth championship, and Miles’ historic rookie season has added another compelling storyline to that push. From breaking Clark’s rookie scoring record to receiving every available Rookie of the Year vote, Miles has made an immediate mark on the WNBA—and her first season suggests that her influence on the league could extend well beyond her historic debut campaign.
