Olivia Miles discusses how she’s preparing for first WNBA playoffs
Olivia Miles shares how she’s preparing for her first WNBA playoff experience, leaning on veteran teammates for guidance as she adjusts to postseason intensity.
Studio IX
The Minnesota Lynx, the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs, were shockingly upset by the No. 8 New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 87-71, for a decisive two-game sweep.
Now, the Lynx turn their attention toward the WNBA offseason, where one of its biggest stars and franchise cornerstones is a free agent.
While the future looks bright for Minnesota with four of the team’s five starters set to return next season — point guard Olivia Miles unanimously won Rookie of the Year and Cheryl Reeve a record fifth Coach of the Year — questions remain about Napheesa Collier’s future with the franchise. Miles is still on her rookie contract and Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard are all signed through 2027.
But the million-dollar question is what will Collier do? Will she run it back with the Lynx? Will they give her another super-max contract or will she look elsewhere? Does Collier want a long-term deal or a short one?
Collier is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. She has spent the entirety of her eight-year WNBA career in Minneapolis after the Lynx drafted her out of UConn with the No. 6 overall pick in 2019.
After winning the 2019 Rookie of the Year award, Collier has been the anchor for the Lynx as the franchise that won four championships between 2011 and 2017 went through a rebuild as Hall of Famers Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen all retired.
Collier has earned five All-Star nods with the Lynx, has been named to the All-WNBA team four times and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. She was the MVP runner-up in both 2024 and 2025. Collier was the Commissioner’s Cup MVP in 2024 and helped the Lynx reach the Finals for the seventh time in franchise history.
This past offseason, truncated by lengthy collective bargaining negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ union, Collier signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million to remain with the Lynx while she rehabbed from ankle surgery. She made her season debut on July 22 and has averaged 16.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting a career-best 44.4% from 3-point land. Collier also added to her Team USA resume this summer, helping the Americans win the FIBA World Cup in Germany earlier this month.
Collier will be one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents on the market this offseason and should be the top priority for the Lynx in the offseason. On paper, a roster that features both Collier and Miles should be a contender for the championship for seasons to come.
Maya Caldwell and Dorka Juhasz are also set to become restricted free agents in 2027.
As for Reeve, the WNBA’s all-time winningest coach, she’s set to return for her 17th season at the helm of Minnesota. Reeve signed a five-year contract extension back in 2022, which is set to expire at the end of the 2027 season. Reeve has a career record of 397-201 with four WNBA titles.