Olivia Miles scored a career-high 28 points and hit eight 3-pointers to set a WNBA rookie record, lifting the Minnesota Lynx to an 87-84 win over the Golden State Valkyries and their sixth straight victory.
MINNEAPOLIS — Olivia Miles knew the night was turning when the first half started to tip hard in Minnesota’s favor. She made her fifth straight 3-pointer with 6:24 remaining in the first half, reaching 17 points while the rest of her teammates had just 14.
By the time the shooting record was already in motion. Miles had delivered the kind of performance that forces a league to recalibrate. She finished with a career-high 28 points and set a WNBA rookie record by making eight 3-pointers in the Minnesota Lynx’s 87-84 win over the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday night.
Miles went 8 of 11 from 3-point range to surpass Caitlin Clark and Crystal Robinson, who previously shared the rookie mark with seven. She also hit her first two 3s of the third quarter.
Minnesota improved to 8-2 and stretched its season run to six straight victories. The Lynx also moved to 7-0 all-time against Golden State, which joined the league last season as an expansion team.
The game stayed tense long after Miles’ early momentum. Minnesota trailed 75-70 with seven minutes remaining, but the Lynx scored the next 11 points. Golden State then closed the gap, pulling within 86-84 with 33.8 seconds left.
Courtney Williams dribbled down the clock before finding Miles, who went up for a driving layup that rolled off the rim. The Lynx secured the offensive rebound, and Williams went 1 of 2 at the foul line to make it a three-point lead with 5.4 seconds left.
A whistle that appeared inadvertent led to a jump ball, with Golden State forward Cecilia Zandalasini coming up with it at 3.8 seconds left. After a timeout, Zandalasini launched a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer that did not hit the rim.
Williams finished with 17 points. Kayla McBride added 14 and Natasha Howard had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota. The Lynx were 13 of 26 from distance.
For Golden State, Zandalasini led with 18 points. Janelle Salaun had five 3-pointers and 17 points, and Tiffany Hayes scored 15. The Valkyries fell to 6-4.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Kelsey Mitchell’s scoring surge didn’t just win the moment. It turned the structure of Indiana’s week into a statement on the court.
Mitchell scored 11 straight points during a third-quarter run Thursday night and finished with 25 points as defending Commissioner’s Cup champion Indiana opened this season’s tournament with a 83-71 victory over the Atlanta Dream.
Aliyah Boston added 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Caitlin Clark had 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Mitchell finished 11 of 15 from the field and joined the WNBA’s 5,000-point club.
The win capped an emotional week for Indiana that included questions about a sideline spat between Clark and coach Stephanie White during last weekend’s loss at Portland. The Fever held a team meeting on Monday.
Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada each scored 13 points for Atlanta. Naz Hillmon added 12 points, and Angel Reese, Clark’s college rival, finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Canada also had seven assists.
Indiana’s defense made the difference. The Fever entered the game allowing 89 points per contest, but gave up a season-low point total against the Dream, the team Indiana eliminated from last year’s playoffs.
Atlanta charged back from a 38-29 halftime deficit to take a 43-42 lead on Hillmon’s 3-pointer with 6:15 left in the third quarter. White called timeout, and when play resumed, Boston’s block led to an easy basket. Clark followed with her second 3-pointer of the game to make it 47-43 and Mitchell converted Lexie Hull’s block into a layup—starting the run that carried the Fever to a 58-43 margin.
WNBA Olivia Miles Minnesota Lynx Golden State Valkyries rookie 3-point record Courtney Williams Caitlin Clark Crystal Robinson Cecilia Zandalasini Natasha Howard