Napheesa Collier has played alongside plenty of talented teammates over her career. She's never played with anyone quite like Olivia Miles.

Collier returned from offseason ankle surgeries 11 games ago, and adjusting to Miles' game has been the biggest challenge of her comeback, in a good way.

"I think the biggest adjustment had been Liv, like I've never played with a player like her before," Collier said, as per Andrew Dukowitz on X on August 27. "The way that Liv plays, she can attack in so many different ways; her passing ability, I've never played with a player like that.” 

Collier explained that the adjustment goes beyond simply learning a new teammate's tendencies, as Clark's versatility has given her a different challenge to work with.

“So that is an adjustment; it's a really fun adjustment, but it's just something I've never done before," Dukowitz added on the X post.

That adjustment is coming from Miles' unpredictable scoring range and vision, which forces Collier to rethink her spacing, movement, and passing lanes rather than fall back on old habits.

Collier missed the first part of the season recovering from surgery on both ankles, which means Miles used that stretch to carry Minnesota to the top of the standings on her own.

According to Brian Martin of WNBA.com, Miles is averaging 20.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game on strong shooting splits, numbers that put her in rare company. 

Only Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker and Caitlin Clark have ever averaged at least 19 points, four rebounds and six assists over a full season, and Miles is on pace to join them as a rookie.

The Lynx Since Napheesa Collier's Return

Coach Cheryl Reeve has noticed the calm Miles has shown carrying that load. "She has a maturity about her," Reeve said, as per Brian Martin of WNBA.com. "That's a rookie. It's high stakes, and you know she is going to be targeted."

Since Collier came back on July 22, Minnesota is a league-best 10-1, beating Indiana, Las Vegas twice, and Golden State along the way. The Lynx have climbed to 31-7, comfortably ahead of second-place Golden State.

Martin noted that the offense has surged with Collier back, up to 93.5 points per game and a 117.2 offensive rating, both top marks in the league. 

Collier herself is averaging 19.0 points and 7.4 rebounds since returning, shooting a career-high 47.4 percent from three.

Much of that jump traces back to what Miles and Collier have built together in the pick-and-roll. 

Per Synergy Sports, as cited by Martin, Collier leads the WNBA in points per possession out of that action, largely because defenses can't decide whether to attack Miles or respect Collier's roll.

Collier has waited a long time to play alongside a talent like this. Now that she has, the Lynx look nearly impossible to slow down. But what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Rudra Dubey