Olivia Miles

Who Is Olivia Rose Miles?

Olivia Rose Miles is an American professional basketball guard for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. She was unanimously named the 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year. She is one of the most complete playmakers women’s basketball has seen in years.

Miles swept the four Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month awards during the regular season and was voted as a starter for Team Spoon in the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game held in Chicago in July. Furthermore, she set Lynx franchise rookie records for points, assists, three-point field goals made, and minutes played.

Her story is one of extraordinary talent, a devastating setback, and a comeback that redefined what a rookie season could look like.

Early Life: From Summit, New Jersey, to a National Stage

Roots in New Jersey

Olivia Rose Miles was born on January 29, 2003, in Summit, New Jersey, and later became a resident of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. She grew up in a household that valued both academic excellence and athletic achievement.

Her father, Yakubu, was born in Jamaica, and her mother, Maria, hails from Italian roots. Both of Miles’ parents are engineers. Together, they gave Olivia a home built on discipline, curiosity, and unconditional support. Essentially, Sports Hawai’i Tribune-Heads

She is the daughter of Yakubu Miles, who was a collegiate middle-distance runner, and Maria Miles, who came from a background in both tennis and education. She has one younger brother named Isaiah, who plays basketball and soccer. famous birthdays

A Multi-Sport Athlete at Blair Academy

She played both basketball and soccer at Blair Academy. Blair Academy is located in Blairstown, New Jersey. Her multi-sport background gave her the footwork, coordination, and competitive instincts that would later make her one of the most dynamic guards in the country. famous birthdays

ESPN called her “a combination of Sue Bird, Steve Nash, and Diana Taurasi” while she was still in high school. That comparison, bold as it was, did not age badly.

She was named to the 2020 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year award mid-season watch list before enrolling early at Notre Dame. go frogs

A Five-Star Recruit With Bold Ambitions

Ranked a five-star recruit by ESPN, she considered offers from Stanford University and the University of North Carolina before ultimately committing to play college basketball for the University of Notre Dame. famous birthdays

It was a choice that launched one of the most decorated college careers in recent memory.

College Career: Notre Dame (2021–2025)

Early Enrollment and an Instant Impact

Miles opted to enroll early at Notre Dame and joined the team on January 25, 2021. She did not take long to announce herself.

She led Notre Dame in scoring at 13.7 ppg and ranked second in America in assists per game at 7.4 in her freshman year. Furthermore, she became the first male or female freshman in NCAA Tournament history to record a triple-double in March Madness during Notre Dame’s Sweet 16 run.

Record-Breaking Triple-Doubles

On December 10, 2022, Miles posted 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists in a 108–44 win over Merrimack, surpassing Skylar Diggins and Jackie Young for the most triple-doubles in Notre Dame history, with three.

Additionally, she became the first player in ACC history to post back-to-back triple-doubles. These were not statistics alone. They were statements.

The ACL Injury: A Season Lost

On February 26, 2023, everything stopped. Olivia Miles was sidelined for the 2023-24 college basketball season due to a torn ACL. She had suffered the injury during Notre Dame’s regular season finale against Louisville. mashup steak

It was a devastating blow. However, it was not a permanent one.

The Comeback: A 20-Point Triple-Double in the First Game Back

She became the first NBA, WNBA, or men’s or women’s college basketball player to ever post a 20-point triple-double in their first game back following a yearlong injury absence. go frogs

That was her comeback statement. It silenced every doubt.

She started all 34 games this season for Notre Dame, averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.6 rebounds. She also shot a career-best 40.6% from three-point range that season.

Honors at Notre Dame

She earned three First-team All-ACC honors (2022, 2023, 2025), three Second-team All-American nods from the AP (2023, 2025, 2026), and was honored as the Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year.

She became one of just two Notre Dame players ever to be honored as an All-ACC first teamer three times. go frogs

Two Degrees From Notre Dame

Olivia Miles is not only an elite athlete. She is also a committed scholar.

Miles earned a bachelor of science degree in political science and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from Notre Dame. She completed both degrees before leaving for TCU. Therefore, she arrived in the WNBA as a double graduate—a rare achievement for any elite college athlete.

TCU (2025–2026): One Season, One Statement

The Transfer Decision

Miles transferred from Notre Dame to finish her college career at TCU. She announced her decision on “NBA on TNT” on Tuesday night and was talking to Candace Parker when she received a box from Shaquille O’Neal with a TCU jersey in it. Fox Sports

Miles wanted to have more time to build physical and mental strength after missing the 2023-24 season due to her ACL injury and credits her time at TCU with preparing her to play professionally.

A Dominant Final Season

Her one season with the TCU Horned Frogs was historic. She led TCU to a 32-6 record, a Big 12 regular season championship, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in 2025-26, earning consensus First Team All-America honors.

Miles averaged 19.6 ppg, 7.2 RPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.79 SPG while starting all 38 games, shooting 48.1% from the floor, 35.1% from three-point distance, and 83.9% from the free-throw line. She also set school single-season records for points, field goals, and assists.

She earned Big 12 Player of the Year.

USA Basketball Gold Medal

She made her senior team debut in USA Basketball’s gold-medal-winning effort at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile. This confirmed her standing not just as a college star but as a legitimate international force.

Professional Career: Minnesota Lynx (2026–Present)

The 2026 WNBA Draft

The Minnesota Lynx selected Miles as the second overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Miles began her first pro season in New York, shouting out her family on stage at the WNBA draft. She flipped open her suit jacket to show the names of her parents and her brother stitched inside. Wnbahawaiitribune-herald

That single image told the story of who Olivia Miles is. Behind every record is a family.

A Historic Rookie Season

In 40 appearances in her rookie season, Miles averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Essentially Sports

Miles tallied 790 points, surpassing former player Caitlin Clark’s rookie record of 769. Moreover, she also set a new record by reaching 500 points and 150 assists in just 26 games.

She set Minnesota’s single-game rookie scoring record with 33 points against the Phoenix Mercury on July 13. She also dealt a season-high 13 assists against the Dallas Wings in August.

Miles became the 11th rookie in WNBA history selected as an All-Star starter.

The Unanimous Rookie of the Year Award

Miles was a unanimous selection as the winner of the 2026 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, receiving all 74 votes from a national media panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

She is now just the sixth rookie in franchise history to earn the award, joining former Lynx players Napheesa Collier (2019) and Crystal Dangerfield (2020).

Miles is the first unanimous winner since 2023 and the sixth in league history.

The Trophy Reveal: A Family Moment

While Miles sat at the table at the team dinner, her parents entered the room. Miles teared up before getting up from her seat. Her father entered the room holding the Rookie of the Year trophy, and her mother, Maria, held a big bouquet. Essentially Sports

“To see my parents, who have truthfully been my rocks through everything, all the hardship I’ve gone through, all the highs and lows, to see them holding something that I won meant so much to me and my family,” Miles recounted.

Cheryl Reeve on Miles

Coach Cheryl Reeve pointed to Miles’ humility and curiosity for setting her up for a successful rookie season. Miles, in turn, credited the veterans around her for “allow[ing] me to be me.” Hawaiian Tribune-Herald

Personal Life: The Person Behind the Game

Olivia Miles is deeply private about her personal life. However, she is open about what matters most.

Her parents have been supportive of their daughter’s dream since she was in high school at Blair Academy, New Jersey. Both of her parents are engineers, and they instilled in her the mindset of a problem-solver—not just an athlete. Essentially, Sports Hawai’i Tribune-Heads

Her brother Isaiah is also involved in basketball and soccer, continuing the family’s athletic tradition.

She is active on Instagram under the handle @oliviamiles.

Career Statistics Summary

WNBA Regular Season (2026 Rookie Season)

Stat	Figure
Games Played	40
Points Per Game	19.8
Rebounds Per Game	4.7
Assists Per Game	6.0
Steals Per Game	1.3
Total Points	790 (new WNBA rookie record)

College Career Highlights

Season	School	PPG	APG	RPG	Notes
2021	Notre Dame	13.7	7.4	—	Led nation in assists; freshman triple-double in NCAA Tournament
2022–23	Notre Dame	—	—	—	ACL injury Feb. 26, 2023; missed 2023–24 season
2024–25	Notre Dame	15.4	5.8	5.6	20-pt triple-double in comeback game
2025–26	TCU	19.6	6.6	7.2	Big 12 POY; First Team All-American; Elite Eight

Awards and Honors

Year	Award
2026	2026 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year (unanimous)
2026	2026 WNBA All-Star Starter
2026	WBCA All-American
2026	Big 12 Player of the Year
2026	First-Team All-Big 12
2023, 2025, 2026	3× Second-Team All-American (AP)
2025, 2026	2× Second-Team All-American (USBWA)
2022, 2023, 2025	3× First-Team All-ACC
2025	USA Basketball FIBA AmeriCup Gold Medal
2023	Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year
2021	First freshman ever to record a triple-double in March Madness