Star Lynx rookie Olivia Miles returns home with 14-point effort against Liberty

Friday was is a homecoming of sorts for Lynx rookie Olivia Miles. The Summit, N.J., native will have had plenty of family and friends show up in droves to support her against the Liberty at Barclays Center. Miles finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in Minnesota’s 99-86 loss.But she struggled with her shooting, going 5-of-16 from the field and missing all four of her 3-point tries.Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve’s only consolation for her fellow New Jerseyan is that Miles’ return home went better than when Maya Moore went back to Connecticut early in her career. Moore scored just two and three points, respectively, in each of her first games at the Connecticut Sun in 2011 and 2012. “It wasn’t good,” Reeve recalled pregame. “I’m really hopeful we can start a trend that this young rookie can be great when she comes back home.” Reeve was “obviously kidding,” of course. But Reeve really doesn’t seem to have to worry about her rookie point guard all too much these days. Miles has drawn comparisons to four-time WNBA champion and Lynx legend Lindsay Whalen. Miles is doing stuff rookie guards don’t typically do.

There’s usually an adjustment period to the speed and physicality of the WNBA game for newcomers, especially those coming from college. It’s impressive her consistency and ability to read the game as well as she does not even two months into her first season.She thought it would take longer for her to adjust to the speed of the pro game, but if anything, she’s the one dictating it when she’s on the floor. Going into Friday’s game, she led She leads all rookies in scoring (18.7 points per game), assists (5.7) and efficiency (22.8).

She also ranks sixth in efficiency and eighth in assists across the league.This year’s No.

2 overall pick is a clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.She’s picked up two Rookie of the Month awards and was named an All-Star starter this week all while leading the Napheesa C...