Olivia Miles Breaks Caitlin Clark's WNBA Rookie Scoring Record in 40th Game

The outcome of the WNBA's 2026 rookie scoring race was determined at the free-throw line 29 seconds into the second quarter on Sunday. Stepping to the stripe after a scoreless opening frame, Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles sank two shots to record her 770th point of the season, officially eclipsing the 769-point benchmark set by Caitlin Clark in 2024.[4]

The record-breaking sequence anchored a 101-89 Lynx victory over the Connecticut Sun, pushing Minnesota to a league-best 32-10 record and moving them within one win of securing the No. 1 overall playoff seed. Miles finished the afternoon with 21 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 from the line, alongside six assists and three rebounds. The performance elevated her season total to 790 points with two games remaining on the schedule.[2][3][4]

Both Miles and Clark reached their respective milestones in exactly 40 games, neutralizing any debate over the WNBA's expanding regular-season schedule. Selected second overall in the 2026 draft out of TCU and Notre Dame, Miles entered Sunday's contest averaging 19.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game.[4]

"It's special, but it means we're more so working well as a team," Miles told reporters following the victory. "It wouldn't be possible without one, a coach that believes in you and then two, having teammates that have my back. So it's really special to obviously be able to accomplish that with such a great team and on a win as well."[4]

The 23-year-old guard, affectionately dubbed "The Spectacle," has systematically rewritten the rookie record books throughout the summer. In June, she shattered Clark's single-game rookie three-point record by draining eight shots from beyond the arc against Golden State. By July, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to amass 500 points and 150 assists, achieving the feat in 26 games to edge past previous marks held by Clark and Paige Bueckers.[2][4]

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve emphasized that Miles's impact extends far beyond raw scoring totals. "She's been incredible for us," Reeve said. "Setting a scoring record, that's pretty incredible. Then there's the assists, the rebounds, just the way she impacts the game."[2]

The milestone cements Miles as the overwhelming favorite for the 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, having already swept the Rookie of the Month honors for the entire season. With 790 points secured, she now needs just 10 points in Minnesota's final two games to become the first rookie in league history to cross the 800-point threshold.[2]

The Lynx will close out their regular season with a home-and-home set against Indiana, where Miles will have the opportunity to push the rookie scoring ceiling even higher before Minnesota turns its attention to a deep postseason run.[3][4]