Olivia Miles has started her career on a path to greatness. It’s a similar path taken by former WNBA legend Candice Parker. The type of season she had can be described as none other than special, and is the only player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Parker may not be alone in that category much longer if Miles continues her dominance over the rest of the league.
Built For Greatness: Inside The Pro Transition Of Olivia Miles And Candace Parker
Miles and Parker both came into the WNBA with high expectations, but nobody expected the transition to be this easy. Both players began their careers as if they had been playing in the league for years, as both reached superstar status rather quickly. Many critics feel like Miles should have been chosen first overall instead of Azzi Fudd. Maybe the draft snub added fuel to her fire, and she has been on a tear from the time she stepped foot on the court. What’s fascinating is that Parker’s and Miles’ stats are similar, but they do it with different styles of play.
Both Miles and Parker have that veteran’s mentality that separates the good from the elite. The learning curve, if any, was very minuscule, as they both displayed the confidence to lead their respective teams. Parker was an avid interior scorer who could rebound, pass and protect the rim. Miles is more of a finesse type of player with a natural smoothness to her game. She makes an impact with her scoring, facilitating, rebounding and creating opportunities in transition.
Even their regular season stats are quite comparable. Parker averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds (WNBA leader), 3.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. Miles is currently putting up 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists with 1.4 steals per contest.
The winning pedigree that was developed during their college years easily translated to the professional level. Some players just have winning embedded in their DNA, and both Miles and Parker made a habit of doing just that. The two-time WNBA MVP led her team to a 20-14 record, improving on their 10-24 mark from the previous year. The only thing Miles has done is become the leader of a team that is missing its superstar. The Lynx sit atop the standings with the top record in the league, all due to Miles and her leadership.
The Collier Conundrum And A Crowded MVP Race
The question now is how Miles will adapt when Napheesa Collier returns to the lineup? This could be good for the Lynx as a team, but bad for Miles in terms of the MVP race. While they may have good chemistry and continue to win, could we expect a slight drop in Miles’ numbers, or will it be the other way around? Maybe Miles and Collier form an unstoppable duo as one player learns to feed off of the other?
Even if Miles maintains her statistical dominance, she still has to worry about the likes of A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and Breanna Stewart. It would be nice to see her make history, but it’s highly unlikely given the competition she faces. Just the fact that she is in the MVP conversation should be considered a major accomplishment. We can expect her name to be brought up in future debates, as she will only continue to improve. For now, the path to MVP is an uphill battle.
