The 2026-2027 WNBA season has been a turning point for the league.
Teams like the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings are establishing strong identities and sitting atop the standings.
Meanwhile, the teams of yesteryear, such as the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun, have fallen to the bottom of the standings. The league has seen a surge of young talent take over this season, including Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Sonia Citron. All of whom have helped push their team into a playoff spot, as the league currently sits.
Lynx Found a Rookie Rarity
However, the brightest young star of them all may be Olivia Miles. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft is the engine behind the Minnesota Lynx’s 13-4 start this season, a record that has put them first in the league.
The rookie is averaging 18.5 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game and 5.6 assists per game on 53% from the field. She currently sits as a dark horse MVP candidate according to an article from the league’s website, behind other youngsters Bueckers and Clark.
Minnesota’s Front Office Continues to Find Gems
The Lynx’s hot start may be considered surprising to some, considering all they lost in the offseason. Yet head coach Cheryl Reeve and the front office made calculated moves that have helped them succeed this year.
After finishing 34-10 and losing to the Phoenix Mercury in the playoffs last season, the Lynx’s roster needed a shakeup. The impending CBA negotiations, expansion draft, slew of free agents, and an injury to star Napheesa Collier, meant the identity of the 2020s Lynx would be changed.
Longtime forward Bridget Carlton was selected No. 1 overall by the Portland Fire in the expansion draft, and both Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith left for Dallas, leaving the Lynx without forward depth headed into the season.
To combat that, they signed former Wings and Liberty star Natasha Howard to a two-year $1.45 million deal to play alongside Collier once healthy. They also inked journeywoman Nia Coffey to a two-year deal.
Both Howard and Coffey are having career seasons in Minnesota, averaging 17.3 PPG and 9.2 PPG, respectively. Both women are averaging over six RPG, and Howard is +4000 to win Defensive Player of the Year.
The Lynx also lost two key guards this past offseason: Natisha Heideman and DiJonai Carrington. The latter was a trade deadline acquisition last season to help aid in the playoffs and was unlikely to re-sign. She left for the Chicago Sky but has yet to play due to injury.
Heideman was the team’s microwave off the bench last season, finishing second in Sixth Player of the Year voting. She would have likely played the same role this season, but left for Seattle under a big contract.
Since entering the league, Miles has been everything the Lynx could have hoped for and more. She has mitigated the hurt of losing Carrington and Heideman. Along with the elite contributions of longtime Lynx Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, the team has undoubtedly exceeded expectations to start the season.
Lynx Have a Defense Unlike Many Others
The Lynx’s calling card for the last few years has been defense. Smith and Collier especially have excelled in that realm, as both women have won the Defensive Player of the Year award in the past.
This season, their defense is no different. According to Fox Sports’ advanced stats, Coffey, Howard, Miles and Williams are four of the top five players in defensive rating. McBride sits just on the cusp of the top 10.
As a team, the Lynx are only behind Golden State for the fewest opponent PPG, with 79.6.
How Can the Lynx Can Continue to Blossom?
As the midpoint of the season approaches, the Lynx don’t really need to change much. Williams and Howard provide consistent scoring production, making them the players to lean on. Miles is still a bit inconsistent in scoring the ball. However, her high peaks and playmaking ability are the reasons the offense is flowing so well.
The Lynx’s front office has seemingly shown how to retool a roster and still be successful, and they will be the blueprint for other teams to watch as the new CBA takes effect.
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