Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles’ articulate reflection after their loss in Game 2 showed that she is truly wise beyond her years.
It was not the ending Olivia Miles had hoped for in her rookie campaign, but she will only grow from it.
Miles and the Minnesota Lynx were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after losing to the New York Liberty in Game 2, 87-71, at Barclays Center on Tuesday. The Lynx became the first No. 1 seed to bow to the No. 8 seed in league history.
Miles struggled in the best-of-three series, averaging just 8.0 points on 4-of-20 shooting and 1.0 assist. They were a significant drop from her stellar numbers in the regular season, which earned her the Rookie of the Year award.
Despite their elimination, the 23-year-old guard remained level-headed.
“Losing is a part of it, right? Having games like I had is part of it. I can’t go out there and play perfectly every game, but I tried to. I tried to control what I can, but sometimes it doesn’t go my way. Such is life,” said Miles in a video posted by basketball reporter Khristina Williams.
“I think it’s beautiful as much as it hurts learning in this way. I’ll take it with me. I’ll remember how it feels.”
She added that she can lean on the positives, while also recognizing her shortcomings in her rookie season. She acknowledged that what the Lynx did this season was “special.”
As evidenced by her thoughtful reflection, Miles is not allowing their exit to define her.
“Sometimes I have to have experiences like this, that hurt this bad, to get me where I want to be. But yeah, I’m definitely grateful for it. I’m trying to look at what we were able to accomplish this season,” added the No. 2 pick.
“I have to remind myself that I’m a rookie. I’m not a 10-year veteran. Sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know what the movement feels like. But now I do, so now there’s no excuse. But being a rookie, I have to give myself a little more grace.”
Miles became the sixth player in team history to win the Rookie of the Year trophy.
It was not the ending Olivia Miles had hoped for in her rookie campaign, but she will only grow from it. Miles and the Minnesota Lynx were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after losing to the New York Liberty in Game 2, 87-71, at Barclays Center on Tuesday. The Lynx became the first No. 1 seed to bow to the No.