A great point guard needs an element of surprise, and that is exactly what makes Olivia Miles such a threat. A drive can become a shot, while a scoring opportunity can quickly turn into a pass, forcing defenders to constantly guess what can come next. That quality has made Miles a leading name in the MVP conversation this season, and it is also what has caught the attention of Derrick Rose.

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, the former NBA star was asked about his favorite WNBA player, and he did not hesitate to single out the Minnesota Lynx rookie. For Rose, it was not simply what Miles has been producing in her first season, but the mentality behind the way she plays.

“I will say the point guard for Minnesota right now – Olivia (Miles). The way that she’s always in attack mode. So you don’t know if she’s going to shoot or pass,” Rose told Sports Illustrated per a video on X. “I love a mentality like that. I kind of have the same mentality, and I’m trying to teach that to my son right now.”

Rose built his game around constantly putting pressure on the defense. At his best, the former MVP could get downhill and force defenders to make a choice – step up and risk giving him a lane to the basket, or stay back and allow him to create. His explosiveness and his ability to create for his teammates at the same time made him a nightmare to contain.

That mentality helped turn him into one of the NBA’s most electric guards of his generation. He became the youngest MVP in league history in 2011, while earning three All-Star selections over the course of his career. Now, Olivia Miles is obviously at the beginning of a very different journey, but the foundation of her game has already made an impression on one of basketball’s most accomplished point guards.

The rookie does not simply attack with the intention of getting her own shot. Her ability to score and distribute makes the initial attack valuable either way. In her first season in the pros, she is currently leading the Lynx with 19.7 points per game and six assists as Minnesota sits at the top of the WNBA standings. She also earned an All-Star selection in her first season.

Olivia Miles has been well on her way to becoming the clear Rookie of the Year favorite ever since her first match. After all, she has kept the Lynx on top despite veteran Napheesa Collier missing most of the season. For now, though, she has been honored as the Rookie of the Month for August, making it her fourth consecutive ROTM.

There is little doubt left about the fact that Olivia Miles is the real deal. She has quickly established herself as the kind of player who does not come around too often. So while Rose is a fan of what she brings to the court, WNBA legend Diana Taurasi could not help but praise the young star, either.

Appearing on The Ringer, Taurasi was asked by Bill Simmons about the one player in the league who had stood out to her. Her answer was Miles, who she believes possesses a combination of skills that could allow her to remain at the top for years to come.

“I think Olivia Miles is a special talent. I think she was a little under the radar because she did leave Notre Dame and she went to TCU, which was a little bit of a smaller school. But this kid is doing stuff that we— she has Kyrie-like handles. She can shoot the basketball. She can get in the lane. And I always said, if you can shoot and you can pass, you can play forever.”

Miles is one of the most exciting young players to watch in the WNBA. But fans have to wait for a while to catch her back in action in a Lynx jersey. The WNBA regular season is currently on hold as the 2026 FIBA World Cup takes place. Minnesota will play its next game on September 18 against the New York Liberty.