Olivia Miles’ case for MVP is stronger than you think

These days, it feels like the WNBA’s most elite players are competing for MVP runner-up. That’s because A’ja Wilson — who has won the award in four of the last six seasons — continues to outdo herself, year after year.

This WNBA season, Wilson is averaging 26.8 points (the second-highest of her career) and 9.8 rebounds (the third-highest). She’s shooting 53.2% from the field (the second-highest of her career) and 43.8% from three (the highest). And, she’s averaging a career-high 3.2 assists per game.

Wilson has the highest plus-minus by a non-Minnesota Lynx player (the Aces are outscoring opponents by 8 points per game with her on the floor). And Las Vegas has the second-best record in the WNBA.

So, there’s no doubt she’d be very deserving of a historic fifth MVP award.

At the same time, the 23-year-old Olivia Miles has made as compelling a case for MVP as anyone. When you watch her play, she feels like an MVP. It’s in the way she carries herself, how she creates for others, and, above all, it’s in how she’s powered a team that has by far been the best in the WNBA.

The case for Olivia Miles for MVP

Let’s take a look at the numbers. Miles has the second-highest plus-minus in the entire WNBA (+8.6), trailing only teammate Natasha Howard. She’s averaging 19.7 points, the 8th-most in the WNBA (among players with at least 16 games). She’s shooting 50.2% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. She’s averaging 5.8 assists per game (also the 8th-most in the WNBA).

While those stats are gaudy, they don’t tell the whole story. Miles affects every possession; she controls Minnesota’s pace, creates high-quality shots for Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, and Natasha Howard, among others, and dictates how opposing teams prepare for the Lynx.

But Miles’ case most heavily rests upon just how good Minnesota has been. The Lynx are a ridiculous 24-5 with her in the lineup; they’re 1-2 without her. They have won a franchise-record 10 straight games, and during that stretch, Miles is averaging 21.5 points, 6 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, while shooting 45.5% from beyond the arc.

On Sunday afternoon, in a marquee match-up between the Lynx and the Indiana Fever, Miles was dynamic, tallying 28 points on a ridiculous 11-of-14 shooting to go along with 6 assists and 4 rebounds. Her and-one layup with just under a minute to play ultimately secured the win.

If the Lynx continue to separate themselves in the standings — they currently have a 4-game lead over the Aces — Miles’ case will be bolstered. Though it’ll be hard for anyone to win MVP with Wilson playing the way that she has, amazingly, Miles has a legitimate pathway to the award in her rookie season.

Regardless, it’s been a sensational season for the former Notre Dame standout. Miles, who was selected No. 2, has almost undoubtedly secured the Rookie of the Year award. And, most importantly, with her at the helm, the Lynx have a legitimate chance at their first WNBA title in the Napheesa Collier era.