Olivia Miles Sets Rookie Record, Extends WNBA Rookie
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- Olivia Miles is leading all WNBA rookies in scoring (19 PPG, top 10 league-wide) and assists (5.7 APG), and set a new career high twice in one week — 29 points against the Aces in a 100-97 loss, then 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting in a 99-83 win over the Sparks, including 24 first-half points that set a new rookie record.
- Azzi Fudd rose to No. 2 after shooting 88.9% from the field (8 of 9) for 19 points in Dallas's 96-66 upset of the Aces, and followed it with five steals against the Valkyries — the most by any rookie in a single game this season.
- Sydney Taylor debuted on the rankings at No. 4, leading all scorers with 24 points in her first career start against the Liberty after a 30-point, 10-of-14 shooting performance in a June 11 overtime loss to Indiana.
- Flau'jae Johnson leads all rookies with 5.1 rebounds per game and is the only rookie with multiple double-doubles, but the Seattle Storm have lost nine straight games since May 24.
- Pauline Astier continues to earn rotation minutes for the Liberty despite Sabrina Ionescu's return, going a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line with nine points, five rebounds and four assists in Wednesday's 96-95 win over Chicago.
- Kiki Rice dropped out of the rankings after suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain and is expected to miss several weeks, with Phoenix's Jovana Nogic, Chicago's Gabriela Jaquez and Seattle's Awa Fam cited as rookies to watch.
Why it matters: Miles is pulling away from a deep rookie class that includes the No. 1 overall pick (Fudd) and the No. 2 overall pick (herself), and her back-to-back career highs — capped by a rookie first-half scoring record — make her the overwhelming front-runner for Rookie of the Year if she sustains this pace. With Kiki Rice sidelined, the race for spots behind Miles is wide open.
