Miles Shines, Then Limps Off as WNBA-Best Lynx Top Valkyries on the Road
Olivia Miles powered the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx to a 77-66 road win over the Golden State Valkyries with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds before exiting late with a left ankle injury. The marquee matchup between the league’s top teams became both a statement victory for Minnesota and a new injury storyline to monitor for one of the season’s standout rookies.
Olivia Miles sparks Lynx past Valkyries before late ankle injury
The Minnesota Lynx strengthened their hold on the top spot in the WNBA with a 77-66 road win over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night, but the victory came with a scare as standout rookie Olivia Miles exited late with a left ankle injury.
According to the game recap from ESPN, the matchup in San Francisco pitted the league’s top teams against each other and quickly tilted in Minnesota’s favor. The Lynx “ran away early” and then “held on” down the stretch to secure the 11-point win on the Valkyries’ home floor.
Miles was at the center of everything Minnesota did offensively. Per ESPN’s recap, she finished with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds, shooting 8-for-10 from the field before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter. The report notes that she turned her left ankle when she stepped on a teammate’s foot, then limped off and went briefly to the locker room before returning to the bench area.
The performance underscored Miles’ impact as a rookie guard guiding the league’s best regular-season team to a key road win against another contender. Minnesota’s ability to build an early cushion against Golden State and then manage the game after Miles’ exit was highlighted in ESPN’s coverage, which framed the result as a statement victory in a marquee late-season matchup.
While the article did not provide a postgame medical update beyond detailing the in-game sequence of Miles’ injury, the visual of her returning to the bench rather than the locker room for the rest of the night was a notable detail. For a Lynx team sitting atop the standings and eyeing a deep playoff run, her health now becomes one of the league’s most closely watched storylines.
In the short term, the night belonged to Minnesota’s balance and composure on the road and to Miles’ efficiency in a spotlight game. In the longer view, the ankle tweak adds an element of uncertainty around one of the breakout players of the WNBA season, even as the Lynx continue to stack wins against the league’s elite.