The Minnesota Lynx dominated the Dallas Wings 100-76 on Tuesday behind a stellar performance from rookie Olivia Miles, who poured in 24 points, six assists and seven rebounds. Her standout play against Dallas' top draft pick Azzi Fudd has reignited the conversation about the 2026 WNBA Draft and the decision to select Fudd first overall. Miles shot an efficient 6-for-7 inside the arc and repeatedly attacked Fudd in the first quarter, showcasing her physicality and poise.
Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx head coach, praised Miles’ impact. "She's special," Reeve said. "We've had, obviously, good teams, legendary teams, but it's a different time now. And there's an awareness - I'm hearing from people talking about our team, obviously talking about the rookie - that is palpable."
Fudd, the former UConn national champion and No. 1 overall pick in 2026, struggled to find her rhythm against the Lynx. She did not score her first basket until the third quarter and finished with just six points. Fudd, who ranks 68th in the WNBA in PER at 15.5, was tasked with defending Minnesota’s primary perimeter threat while receiving fewer offensive opportunities.
Miles, who entered the game ranked fifth in the league in PER at 25.2, gave credit to Fudd. "She's a great player, she deserved to go No. 1," Miles said. "She's a brilliant shooter, one of the best we've ever seen in the game, but obviously, against any team, I love to compete."
The Lynx improved to 10-2 on the season and now boast a point differential of plus-12.9, the best in the league. Dallas, meanwhile, fell to 5-7 and sits with a much weaker plus-3.7 differential. The gap between the two teams in both record and performance is growing.
Miles and Fudd have a history of competing since their youth, and the matchup added another layer of intrigue. "I love the matchups, Dallas has great guards," Miles said. "It's always fun to play against someone who's in your class and we've been competing since we were young."
The debate over the 2026 WNBA Draft will continue as both players look to make their mark in the season's second half. Minnesota will next face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, while Dallas hosts the New York Liberty on Friday.
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