Sophie Cunningham says Olivia Miles is on a clear path to Rookie of the Year, praising her playmaking, scoring, and court vision as Minnesota posts an 11-3 record atop the WNBA standings.
Sophie Cunningham didn’t hedge when she talked about who should take home WNBA Rookie of the Year.
On a recent episode of her podcast, Cunningham said Olivia Miles “is gonna get Rookie of the Year,” adding, “I don’t know if anyone has watched her play. Whoever’s listening to this, she is a beast, an actual beast.”
Cunningham’s pick lands on a player whose early WNBA impact is hard to miss. Miles was drafted No. 2 overall by the Minnesota Lynx, and she joined Minnesota after college stops at Notre Dame and TCU.
In her final season before turning pro, Miles averaged career-highs across the board: 19.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals. She shot 48.1% from the field. started 38 games—again. a career high and all starts—and set single-season records in points (744). assists (252). field goals (268) and minutes played (1344) during the school’s second straight 30-plus win season.
Her rookie work in the league has been just as eye-catching. The 23-year-old already took home May Rookie of the Month honors and is seventh in the league in assists (5.9 apg). She’s also ranked in the top 15 in points (18.1 ppg) and is top 15 in steals (1.4 spg). In rebounds, she’s among the top 25 in rebounds per contest at 5.0.
Those contributions are coming as Minnesota holds the top spot in the WNBA standings with an 11-3 record, a mark Cunningham credited to Miles’ presence and production.
“She is so good. Her passing, her shooting, her court vision,” Cunningham said. “She is good ― good, good.”
Cunningham also acknowledged the social awkwardness some fans might feel about the praise. She said she knows it can seem “weird” to compliment a player who isn’t on her own team. But she brushed that aside with a straight answer.
“She is a freaking beast. I’m a fan. Is that weird to say?” Cunningham said. “Our sport is always like … so competitive. and there’s not that many of us. and so you’re always going against each other. but I think it is cool to give people their flowers. And Olivia Miles, she 100% deserves it because she is putting the whole league on notice right now.”.
WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles Minnesota Lynx Sophie Cunningham Paige Bueckers Verizon Dallas Wings player stats season performance
Rookie of the Year already?? Sounds like they just pick the loudest highlight reel.
11-3 already is crazy, so yeah she probably has it. But I don’t watch every Lynx game, I just saw the numbers floating around. Passing and court vision is what everyone says though lol.
Isn’t Sophie Cunningham like on Paige Bueckers side or something? I saw that name in the article too so I assumed it was a whole thing. Also “May Rookie of the Month” like that’s the whole season? I guess assists wins games but rebounds matter too.
I mean if Minnesota’s on top then sure, the rookie must be doing it. But why does she say it like “she’s a beast” like that’s supposed to prove stats? Somebody needs to check her field goal % too, because 48% doesn’t scream unstoppable. Still, 5.9 assists is wild. And the social awkwardness part—kinda feel bad for fans that want everyone to stay in their lane.