Olivia Miles Breaks Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Rookie Points Record with 770th Point
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The record that many believed would stand for years has fallen in a single season.
Minnesota Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles became the WNBA’s all-time rookie scoring leader on Sunday, surpassing Caitlin Clark’s previous mark of 769 points during Minnesota’s game against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Miles, who entered the matchup tied with Clark’s record, broke the mark with a free throw just 29 seconds into the second quarter after being fouled by Sun guard Ashlon Jackson. The historic point came after a scoreless first quarter for the 5-foot-10 guard, who quickly found her rhythm when it mattered most.
The record-breaking moment is the latest achievement in what has been a historic rookie campaign for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Miles has swept Rookie of the Month honors this season and has all but secured the Rookie of the Year award.
A Season of Broken Records
Miles’ pursuit of Clark’s record has been one of the defining storylines of the 2026 WNBA season. She tied the mark on Friday with a 20-point performance against the New York Liberty, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter to pull within one point of history.
What makes Miles’ achievement particularly notable is that she reached the milestone in her 40th game of the season — the exact same number of games Clark played during her record-setting 2024 campaign with the Indiana Fever. Miles missed two games with a calf injury in July, yet still managed to match Clark’s pace.
The record is just one of several marks previously held by Clark that Miles has eclipsed this season. On June 4, she hit eight 3-pointers in a home victory over the Golden State Valkyries, surpassing Clark’s rookie record of seven set in June 2024. On July 11, Miles became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 350 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, accomplishing the feat in 21 games — one game quicker than both Clark and former Charlotte Sting guard Andrea Stinson. She also became the fastest player to reach 500 points and 150 assists in 26 games, breaking records previously set by Paige Bueckers and Clark.
A Historic Rookie Campaign
Miles’ statistics paint the picture of a player who has transcended the typical rookie learning curve. Entering Sunday’s game, she was averaging 19.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, leading all rookies in scoring and assists while ranking among the league leaders in multiple categories.
Her debut on May 10 foreshadowed what was to come. Miles posted 21 points and eight assists, becoming just the fifth player in WNBA history to record 20-plus points and five-plus assists in her first career game. From that moment forward, she has been the engine driving a Minnesota team that has spent much of the season with the best record in the WNBA.
The 23-year-old guard, who played collegiately at Notre Dame and TCU, has been a fixture in the MVP conversation alongside her Rookie of the Year candidacy. Her efficiency has been remarkable — shooting splits of 50.1% from the field, 40.4% from 3-point range, and 87.3% from the free-throw line through late August placed her among the league’s elite in each category.
The Clark Standard
Caitlin Clark’s rookie season in 2024 set a new benchmark for what a first-year player could accomplish in the WNBA. The No. 1 overall pick averaged 19.2 points, a league-leading 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds while leading the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Clark’s 769 points and 122 3-pointers established rookie records that many considered untouchable in the short term. She also recorded the first two triple-doubles by a rookie in WNBA history and became the first Fever player ever to post a triple-double.
“The most-anticipated rookie in league history” is how The Athletic described Clark upon her entry into the WNBA, and she delivered on that promise by winning Rookie of the Year unanimously.
Now, just two seasons later, Miles has surpassed one of Clark’s most prestigious marks. The symmetry is notable: both players reached 769 points in 40 games, and both did so as the focal point of their respective offenses from day one.
What’s Next
Miles will have opportunities to extend her record, with two games remaining in the 44-game regular season — up from the 40-game schedule Clark played in 2024. The Lynx have already clinched a playoff berth and are positioned for a deep postseason run.
The Rookie of the Year award, which Miles has been the frontrunner for all season, appears to be a formality at this point. But for Miles and the Lynx, the larger goal remains the WNBA championship — something Clark’s Fever fell short of in 2024 when they were swept by the Connecticut Sun in the first round.
For now, Miles can savor a moment that cements her place in WNBA history. The record that once belonged to Caitlin Clark now belongs to Olivia Miles, and with two games still to play, the final number is only going up.
