Napheesa Collier has not missed a beat as she returned to the hardcourt after having missed almost 10 months of playtime, but admits to a specific adjustment she has had to make. The five-time All-Star has already missed 27 games this season while recovering from her double ankle surgery, but as she rejoined the Minnesota Lynx in July, she felt the need to adapt her playstyle to accommodate the frontrunner in the 2026 Rookie of the Year race – Olivia Miles.

Collier recently spoke to Lynx beat writer Andrew Dukowitz during a media interaction segment and elaborated on the impact Miles has brought to the team and how she has had to account for Miles’ playstyle.

“I think the biggest adjustment is Liv. Like, I’ve never played with a player like her before. I think our other players, like, I play with similar people. Like, we’re all very hardworking; we’re all very system-based. But just the way that Liv plays, like, she can attack in so many different ways. The way that she- her passing ability, things like that. I’ve never played with a player like that. So that is an adjustment.”

Napheesa Collier, who was drafted by the Lynx back in 2019, has remained with the team since and has been one of their leading scorers throughout her time there. She has led the team in scoring during the 2023 (21.5 PPG), 2024 (20.4 PPG), and 2025 (22.9 PPG) regular seasons. This season, however, Miles has taken the throne, while Collier sits second, tied with Kayla McBride.

Collier has been a presence on both sides of the court through her years of play, not only on offense. She was crowned the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. But with the addition of a high-volume scorer like Miles, Collier must adjust to a reduced scoring role. A veteran with as much experience as Collier recognizes when she is being outperformed and is adapting to her role gracefully. Collier is aware that she will have to step up her game to match Miles’ performance and has admitted that the change has not been too much of an adjustment. 

“It’s a really fun adjustment, but it’s just, like, something I’ve never done before. So that’s probably getting on pace with her.”

Olivia Miles, since she was drafted by the Lynx with the second overall pick in 2026, has been a prolific scorer for the team. She has been their primary offensive weapon since the season began, averaging 19.7 points per game. She has also put up respectable rebounding and assist numbers, with 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists registered per game. 

Miles currently stands eighth on the list of highest scorers in the league for the 2026 season, just behind Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers (20.6 PPG) and New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart (20.8 PPG). While these numbers are impressive, they pale in comparison to league-leader and reigning MVP A’ja Wilson’s 26.0 points per game. Despite this, Miles’ performances have led the Lynx to the top seed going into the playoffs. 

Miles currently leads the Lynx in both points and assists, leaving behind veteran stars such as Kayla McBride and Collier herself, both of whom are averaging 18.1 points per game. The rookie’s playstyle is primarily a relentless attack on the offense, featuring bold layups and accurate three-pointers. 

Her incredible offensive talents are punctuated by court vision (6.2 assists per game), complementing her scoring. Miles is also known for the occasional steal, averaging 1.3 steals per game. But scoring remains her best skill, a role she took over during Collier’s absence while recovering from her surgery. And this has not gone unnoticed by the legends of the game. 

Cheryl Reeve and Sue Bird Agree on Olivia Miles’ Talent

Miles and the Lynx have made it to the very top of the WNBA standings this season, making them the team to beat. And Miles’ contribution to this title charge cannot be understated. 

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve believes that while A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark are being hailed as the frontrunners in the MVP conversation, Miles deserves a place in the debate. 

“If Olivia Miles doesn’t play, we’re not 31-7,” she said during an August 21 postgame conference posted to the Lynx YouTube channel. “I think MVP awards should go to teams that are at the top. Especially if that player, if she’s not out there, we have a hard time being where we are.”

Olivia Miles truly took over the role of the primary scorer for the Lynx when an absence was left by Collier’s recovery phase. WNBA legend Sue Bird took the conversation further. She spoke about how Miles has changed the way people think about the position of point guard altogether on an August 21 episode of her podcast, Bird’s Eye View.

“She’s incredible to watch. She’s bringing new aspects to the game, to the position. The point guard position has been an evolution. It was all you do is dribble it up, call the play, and pass, and you’re probably not a shooter, and we can just ignore you, to an evolution of you have to be a scorer,” Bird emphasized. “Now, she’s adding her own flavor to it. The way she finishes around the rim, it’s almost like an analytical version. She’s at the rim or she’s shooting threes, and on top of that, breaking down defenses and finding her teammates.”

The former Texas Christian University alum has been instrumental in the Lynx’s outstanding record of 31-8. While they have five games to play in the regular season, the Lynx have booked a berth in the 2026 playoffs. What remains to be seen is how many more records Olivia Miles can break this season!