Olivia Miles breaks Clark’s scoring mark
Olivia Miles completed her first WNBA regular season with Minnesota after being selected No. 2 overall in 2026. She averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 40 starts.
Miles finished with 790 points, breaking Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record of 769 from 2024. Clark retained the rookie assist record with 337, while Miles finished second in rookie history with 239.
Olivia Miles leads the scoring comparison
Miles scored 790 points in 40 games, averaging 19.8 per contest. Clark scored 769 across 40 appearances in 2024 and averaged 19.2 points during her first season with the Indiana Fever.
The scoring difference was 21 points across equal game totals. Miles, therefore, finished ahead in both total scoring and points per game, giving the 2026 rookie the stronger scoring output.
Olivia Miles shoots more efficiently
Miles shot 49.2% from the field during the 2026 regular season and converted 38.8% from 3-point range. Clark shot 41.7% overall and 34.4% from beyond the arc during her 2024 rookie season.
Miles also posted a 60.6% true shooting rate. Clark made 122 3-pointers as a rookie, while Miles made 64, giving Clark a much larger advantage in total long-range makes that season.
Caitlin Clark keeps the assist edge
Clark remained ahead as a passer during the comparison. She averaged 8.4 assists in 2024 and finished with 337, while Miles averaged 6.0 and totaled 239 during her first season.
Clark’s 337 assists set a WNBA single-season record in 2024 and remain the rookie benchmark. Miles finished second in rookie history for total assists, placing directly behind Clark in that category.
Caitlin Clark holds rebounding edge
Clark also held the rebounding edge from the guard position. She averaged 5.7 rebounds in 2024, compared with 4.7 for Miles during Minnesota’s complete 2026 regular season campaign that year.
Clark collected 227 rebounds across 40 games, while Miles finished with 186 in the same number of appearances. The largest difference came on defense, where Clark recorded 213 defensive rebounds.
Olivia Miles adds another scoring record
Miles established another rookie scoring record by producing 22 games with at least 20 points. That total surpassed Seimone Augustus, who had held the previous rookie mark with 20 such games.
Miles also finished third in WNBA rookie history in scoring average at 19.8 points. Augustus still holds the rookie record at 21.9 points per game from her full 2006 season.
Caitlin Clark owns more rookie records
Clark’s rookie year produced several records beyond scoring. She made 122 3-pointers, recorded two triple-doubles, and set the WNBA single-game assist record with 19 against Dallas on July 17, 2024.
That 19-assist performance set a league record for any WNBA player and still stands. Clark also became the first rookie in league history to record a triple-double and eventually finished with two.
Olivia Miles wins rookie award unanimously
Miles earned the 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year award unanimously, receiving all 74 votes from the national panel. Clark won the 2024 award with 66 of 67 votes, while Angel Reese received one.
Both guards received overwhelming support in their respective award votes. Clark also earned All-WNBA First Team honors in 2024, becoming the only rookie selected to the league’s First Team that season.
Olivia Miles and Clark earn All-Star starts
Miles became a WNBA All-Star starter during her rookie season with Minnesota. Clark also started the 2024 All-Star Game as a rookie and recorded 10 assists, setting a rookie record for the event.
Miles earned her first All-Star selection in 2026 and joined the starting group. Clark became the seventh rookie to start a WNBA All-Star Game when she earned that distinction in 2024.
Olivia Miles enters stronger team context
Team context differed sharply between the two rookie seasons. Minnesota finished 33-11 in 2026 and earned the league’s top playoff seed, while Indiana finished 20-20 during Clark’s 2024 debut season.
Indiana improved by seven victories from 2023, when the Fever finished 13-27. Minnesota entered Miles’ rookie season after posting a 34-10 record in 2025, creating two very different starting situations.
Fun fact: Miles became the first freshman in men’s or women’s NCAA Tournament history to record a triple-double, doing it in her tournament debut.
Caitlin Clark ends Indiana playoff drought
Clark helped Indiana reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, ending an eight-year postseason absence. The Fever improved by seven victories from the previous season during her rookie campaign.
Miles joined Minnesota after the Lynx had posted 34 wins in 2025. Her rookie production added 19.8 points and 6.0 assists per game to a team that already had established success.
Olivia Miles entered as the No. 2 pick
Miles entered the WNBA as the No. 2 overall pick in 2026 after finishing college at TCU. Clark entered two years earlier as the No. 1 selection after completing her Iowa career.
Both guards became immediate starters after entering the league. Miles started all 40 games she played for Minnesota, while Clark started every one of Indiana’s 40 regular-season contests in 2024.
“Focus on who is here,” Angel Reese responds to A’ja Wilson’s Team USA absence, emphasizing attention on the players available rather than those missing from the roster.
Olivia Miles and Clark show different strengths
Miles finished her rookie season with more points and higher field-goal and 3-point percentages. Clark recorded more assists, rebounds, and made 3-pointers while setting additional rookie and league records in 2024.
Both earned Rookie of the Year honors and reached the playoffs during their debut seasons. Miles set the rookie scoring record, while Clark retained the rookie records for assists and made 3-pointers.
Check out more about why Angel Reese shares a warm moment with Brittney Griner after the game.
Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record, while Clark still owns major passing and 3-point marks. Which rookie season impressed you more? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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