Lynx easing in Napheesa Collier for season debut vs. Storm

For the second time this week, the Minnesota Lynx will face the Storm in Seattle on Wednesday in the final game for both teams before the WNBA's All-Star break.

The Lynx (21-6) defeated the Storm (6-22) on Monday night behind a herculean effort from rookie point guard Olivia Miles. The No. 2 overall draft pick tallied 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the 105-102 victory. Miles became just the fifth player in WNBA history to record such a stat line in a game and joined Candace Parker as the only rookie to do it.

On the season, Miles is averaging 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 50.1% from the floor. She ranks eighth in the league in scoring and seventh in assists.

The Lynx also have enjoyed recent standout performances from veteran guard Kayla McBride, who was named WNBA Player of the Week after averaging 27 points per game over her last three outings, all wins for Minnesota.

The Lynx have needed great scoring performances from Miles and McBride because, while they've won six straight games, they've allowed 90 points or more in three of their last four.

"It's special when you can walk away with a win and be like, ‘We have so many things to get better at,'" Miles said.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve added: "Our three perimeter players have been special all season. Right now, we're needing them to have these prolific efforts in order for us to win a game because our defense is nowhere to be found."

Help is on the way. Napheesa Collier, the two-time MVP runner-up and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, will be on a minutes restriction when she makes her season debut on Wednesday, per Reeve. Collier had offseason surgery on both her ankles after tearing ligaments in her left ankle during a playoff game last September.

"I'm going to be mindful of how many minutes she plays, but she hates the idea of a minutes restriction, so just don't tell her," Reeve told reporters.

"... We still have a couple more steps to go before we see the Phee we know her to be."

The Storm are riding a five-game losing streak and have lost seven of their last eight games.

Still, their young core of Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam and Flau'jae Johnson -- all first-round picks over the last two drafts -- have continued to shine. Johnson had 26 points against the Lynx on Monday, while Malonga is averaging 16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

"Actually, our youth is our strength. We have a lot of energy, and we never stop," Malonga recently told Slam Magazine. "I really can't wait to keep developing this chemistry with the two of them because I think that's a real big three right there."

--Field Level Media