The biggest story out of Monday night is a rookie doing something no WNBA player has ever done in 22 games, and it has real consequences for Wednesday's number.
Olivia Miles Just Joined a Club of One
Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles scored a career-high 33 points Monday night, 16 of them in the fourth quarter, going 10-of-16 from the field with five made threes and eight assists. That line is remarkable on its own. The context is something else entirely: Miles became the first WNBA player ever to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists in only 22 career games. First player. Ever. In 30 seasons of this league.
The Lynx needed every bit of it. Kayla McBride added a season-high 37 points, six triples, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks. McBride and Miles combined for 70 points, becoming the first Lynx teammates to both score 30-plus in the same game. Minnesota beat Phoenix 104-100 in a game that was tied at 98 with 65 seconds left before the Lynx closed it out. Three straight wins now for Minnesota, and their record sits at 18-6.
That's the number that matters for Wednesday. The Lynx host the Los Angeles Sparks at 12:10 PM ET, and Minnesota comes in at 18-6, winners of three in a row, with two of the hottest individual performances of the season sitting in the box score 24 hours earlier. The wire also notes McBride's 37-point game specifically as context for the Sparks matchup. Los Angeles is 10-12. The Lynx are 11-1 in Western Conference play. This one sets up as a significant favorite situation, and the overnight performance does nothing to argue against it.
Angel Reese, 16 Double-Doubles
In Atlanta, Angel Reese had 23 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and two assists in a Dream win over the Sparks. That was her 16th double-double of the season and her second 20-point, 10-rebound game. The Sparks were on the wrong end of that one and now travel to Minnesota the next day. Two tough nights in a row for Los Angeles, which is worth noting as a fatigue and rhythm factor when the Wednesday line comes into focus.
Alyssa Thomas, Historical Company
Connecticut's Alyssa Thomas logged 19 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds Monday, and in doing so joined Diana Taurasi as the only players in WNBA history with 4,000-plus points, 2,000-plus assists, and 2,000-plus rebounds. That is an absurd combination of longevity and versatility. The Sun have Portland coming in at 11:10 AM ET this morning. Thomas is just Thomas.
Also on the milestones board: DeWanna Bonner passed Sheryl Swoopes on the WNBA's all-time steals list Monday, moving into sixth place. Dearica Hamby passed Michelle Snow on the all-time rebounds list, moving into the top 20. Season 30 of this league is delivering.
Wednesday's Matchups at a Glance
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Storm @ Chicago Sky | Wed 12:10 PM | 6-19 @ 7-16 |
| LA Sparks @ Minnesota Lynx | Wed 12:10 PM | 10-12 @ 18-6 |
| Golden State Valkyries @ Indiana Fever | Wed 8:10 PM | 17-7 @ 14-9 |
The Seattle-Chicago game is two struggling teams, which is actually a live conversation for totals rather than sides. Chicago's Hiedeman just had a 31-point game, so there is some offensive heat in that building. Two bottom-table records, one recent explosion. That's worth watching when the line firms up.
The Golden State-Indiana matchup is the one I'll be watching most carefully. The Valkyries are 17-7 and seeking a fifth straight road win. Indiana is 14-9 and playing at home. That's a good team trying to stop a road-win streak from a very good team, with tip at 8:10 PM ET. That's a primetime game with genuine stakes on both ends.
What I'm Watching Next
The Wednesday morning lines when they open in full, specifically the Golden State-Indiana number and whether the market prices in that road-win streak or discounts it. Minnesota's spread against Los Angeles after back-to-back dominant individual performances also deserves a look before it moves. Nothing cleared my number this morning, but the material is rich and Wednesday sets up as a real day.
All games are entertainment with variance. 21-plus where applicable. If gambling stops being fun, 1-800-GAMBLER is there.