After initially being listed as questionable with a calf injury, Olivia Miles has been ruled out for Monday’s matchup vs. the Sun, marking the rookie’s first absence of the season.
Miles isn’t just the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, she is a legitimate MVP candidate. The 23-year-old is leading the 15-5 Lynx with 18.5 PPG on 50% shooting while also averaging 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Miles leads the entire WNBA in plus/minus and with her off the floor, Minnesota’s net rating is 13.5 points per 100 possessions worse than with her on.
While there are no further details on Miles’ calf, these type of injuries are always worrisome, so there is definitely a concern that she misses more than Monday’s matchup vs. the Sun. With Miles sidelined, Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard should both see larger usage rates, and Antonia Delaere could get the spot start. With Miles off the floor this season, Howard leads Minnesota with a 32.8% usage rate, which is an 8.3 percentage point lift from her average.
Even with Miles out, the Lynx are a 12.5-point home favorite vs. the Sun on DraftKings Sportsbook.
