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The WNBA has no shortage of young stars, but one rookie is rapidly turning admiration into outright awe from players around the league. While much of the attention entering the 2026 season centered on names like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, Minnesota Lynx sensation Olivia Miles is forcing her way into every major conversation. And after hearing what Indiana Fever veteran Sophie Cunningham had to say this week, it's clear Miles' impact is being felt far beyond the stat sheet.
Sophie Cunningham couldn't stop raving about Olivia Miles
During a recent episode of her "Show Me Something" podcast, Cunningham offered one of the strongest endorsements a rookie could receive from an opposing player.
"I know that they said Olivia Miles was up for rookie. She's going to get Rookie of the Year," Cunningham said. "I don't know if anyone has watched her play, whoever's listening to this, she is a beast. An actual beast."
That praise didn't stop there.
Cunningham highlighted virtually every aspect of Miles' game, from her passing ability to her court vision and shooting touch. What stood out most, however, was her description of Miles' creativity with the ball in her hands.
"She just has like the wiggle of a guy," Cunningham said. "She is so good. Her passing, her shooting, her court vision. She is good."
For a veteran competitor to publicly shower praise on a player she'll regularly have to face says plenty about how highly Miles is already regarded around the league.
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The Lynx rookie keeps making history
The numbers support Cunningham's enthusiasm.
Miles captured Rookie of the Month honors after averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 assists in May while leading first-year players in several major categories. Since then, she's elevated her game even further. Earlier this month, the former Notre Dame star knocked down eight three-pointers in a victory over the Golden State Valkyries, breaking Clark's rookie record for most threes made in a single game. It was another reminder that Miles isn't just having a strong rookie season — she's producing at a historic level.
Through 14 games, Miles is averaging 18.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists while helping keep the Lynx among the WNBA's elite teams. Her rise has also reignited what looked like a one-sided Rookie of the Year race entering the season. Instead of simply adjusting to the professional game, Miles has immediately become one of the league's most dynamic offensive weapons.
Rookie of the Year race may already be tilting in one direction
The most telling part of Cunningham's comments may have been her confidence. Rather than saying Miles should be considered for Rookie of the Year, Cunningham flatly declared she's going to win it.
That's a bold statement considering the amount of talent that entered the league this season. Yet every week seems to add more evidence to her case. Miles arrived in the WNBA with an impressive résumé from Notre Dame, where she became the first freshman in NCAA Tournament history to record a triple-double and finished her career as the program's all-time leader in triple-doubles. The transition to the professional level has looked almost effortless.
When opposing veterans begin using phrases like "actual beast" and "freakin' beast," it's usually a sign that a player has moved beyond promising prospect status. Miles appears to be reaching that point already.
And if her current trajectory continues, Cunningham's prediction may end up looking less like a hot take and more like an early warning to the rest of the league.
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