For the third straight year, the Minnesota Lynx were a top-two seed in the WNBA playoffs. And for the third straight year, they crashed out without that historic fifth championship. This time, it was a first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Liberty, making the Liberty the first No.8 seed ever to upset a No.1 seed in WNBA playoff history. Talk about a gut punch.
The Clock is Ticking: Rebuild Around Miles, Now
This latest playoff heartache under legendary coach and executive Cheryl Reeve makes the Lynx’s direction for 2027 and beyond crystal clear. The good news for Reeve and the organization is that significant salary is coming off the books in the next two winters. That means the Lynx are in prime position to hit refresh on their veteran core and rebuild around Olivia Miles. Miles, the unanimous Rookie of the Year and a possible future MVP, is clearly the centerpiece they are banking on.
Reeve, a four-time WNBA champion as the Lynx coach, has the savvy and ingenuity to pull off this rebuild, and she will need it. The next calendar year is going to be wild. Napheesa Collier, a two-time WNBA MVP runner-up, is hitting the open market this offseason, and she figures to be one of the most coveted free agents available, if not the single most coveted. Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, both veteran guards with All-Star pedigrees, are set to attract serious interest either in 2027 free agency or via the trade market beforehand. Even three-time All-Star Natasha Howard and starting forward Nia Brodie are only under contract through 2027. Reeve has all the flexibility she needs to be aggressive right now or wait and hit the full reset button next year. Either way, change is coming to Minneapolis, and it is going to be good news for Miles.
Miles’ Playoff Struggles and What It Means
But let us be real, Miles does not get off scot-free here, either. Her first postseason ended in disappointment, and the stats back it up. In that first-round sweep, Miles averaged only 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and a mere 1.0 assist per game. Her shooting percentages were rough: 20.0% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range over 23.6 minutes. On Tuesday, the night their season ended in that 87-71 loss to the Liberty, Miles played just 17 minutes. She was benched after missing 16 of her 20 shot attempts in the playoffs, scoring a grand total of 16 points and dishing out just two assists. When asked about Miles’ physical condition, Coach Reeve simply stated, “Yeah she’s fine.” Those numbers, though, tell a different story about her on-court impact.
This playoff run, or lack thereof, proved Miles has a long, long way to go before she hits superstardom. The undeniable truth is that her timeline for growth just does not match up with the Lynx’s existing, battle-hardened core. Something absolutely has to give, and it is not going to be Miles. She is the undisputed future.
So, what is next for the Lynx? It is all about the future, building around Miles. They have got the cap space and the coaching ingenuity to make serious moves this offseason. Keep a close eye on those free agency announcements. The next chapter for Minnesota starts now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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