The number one seed, the Minnesota Lynx, edged past the number two seed, the Golden State Valkyries, at Chase Center on Wednesday. The game was closely contested as the Lynx won 77-66. However, the talking point after the game became the apparent injury to Minnesota guard Olivia Miles that she suffered late in the game.
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At around 4:37 left in the fourth quarter, Olivia Miles can be seen tangling her left foot with another Lynx player, Napheesa Collier, and went down afterward, clutching her ankle. She was later escorted out to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game.
Miles was in a defensive play against the Valkyries’ Veronica Burton when the incident happened. All the Lynx players soon gathered around their injured player, as shown during the broadcast, and was later taken to the locker room. While there is no official update from the Lynx management regarding her injury, head coach Cheryl Reeve did share some comments on this development.
“She did tweak it, but I don’t have any idea where it’s at,” Cheryl Reeve said after the game in the press conference.
“I haven’t seen the play yet. Obviously we’re hoping that she’s okay.”
Notably, Miles remained upbeat after the game and even joked with teammate Kayla McBride in the post-game press conference.
Minnesota was comfortably leading 63-55 when Miles exited to the locker room. They held on to win their fifth game in a row. For the Valkyries, their six-game winning streak ended.
The Lynx have become somewhat of a hurdle for the Golden State to cross, as Minnesota has won both of their games against the Valkyries this season. In addition, the Lynx have never lost any of the eight games against the Valkyries, including a playoff series last year.
Minnesota will hope to have Miles back in the lineup soon. The leading contender for the Rookie of the Year is averaging 19.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game this season.
Her teammates have time and again shown their appreciation for her playmaking abilities and what she brings to this Lynx team, as they push for a first championship since 2017.
“She’s so present. She’s just so talented and poised. She’s just a hooper. She loves the moment. She loves to compete. She relishes the moments, and you can feel that. I’m just excited to see what she does next,” Kayla McBride said of Miles after their latest win.
The Lynx have just seven games left in the regular season and would already be preparing for the playoffs. The Valyries will get another chance to log their first win of the season against the Lynx as both teams face off again on Monday.