Women’s sports are shaping the future, as USWNT star Naomi Girma, WTA phenom Alexandra Eala, and WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles all landed on this week’s 2026 TIME100 Next list.
Soccer great Alex Morgan penned Girma’s tribute, calling her “the hardest defender I’ve ever had to play against” and noting her then-record $1 million transfer to Chelsea last year.
ATP legend Rafael Nadal praised 21-year-old Eala — the highest-ranked Filipino in tennis history — as “warm, approachable, and humble,” while four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird marveled that Lynx centerpiece Miles “is only just beginning to scratch the surface.”
“The TIME100 Next brings together individuals whose work is defining the next generation of leadership,” said TIME CEO Jessica Sibley. “This year’s listmakers are pushing boundaries, creating new possibilities, and advancing their fields and communities around the world.”
Lynx star Olivia Miles made her mark, winning 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year by unanimous vote after leading No. 1 Minnesota to a 33-11 regular-season record.
Miles is just the sixth unanimous ROY in league history, joining Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, Elena Delle Donne, Tina Charles, and Candace Parker.
“I really owe it to all my vets,” Miles said. “You guys have allowed me to be me since day one, and I seriously am cherishing these moments.”
Miles swept all four regular-season WNBA Rookie of the Month awards en route to her first postseason campaign.
She became the fastest player to reach 500 points and 150 assists, posting a rookie-record six games with 20+ points while shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line.
“I have gone through a lot with my knee injury, just some tough, tough years in college, so this means a lot,” Miles continued.
No. 5 Indiana is buckling up, tipping off a season-ending Lynx vs Fever doubleheader against No. 1 Minnesota tonight with crucial playoff seeding on the line.
The Lynx need just one win to clinch the top overall seed, while the Fever can up their home-court advantage odds by running the table.
“We play the best team in the league, two games to finish the regular season,” said Indiana guard Caitlin Clark. “I see that as an opportunity for us to have amazing confidence going into the postseason.”
Minnesota might be without its rookie floor general tonight, with guard Olivia Miles listed as “questionable” after a left calf knock.
Miles leads the team in points (19.8) and assists (6.0) per game, leaving the Lynx in the lurch as they look to lock in a second straight No. 1 seed.
The Fever might have guard trouble of its own, as “probable” Clark continues to nurse a lingering back issue.
Minnesota faces Indiana tonight at 8 PM ET (ESPN).
Minnesota’s Olivia Miles can’t be stopped. The Lynx phenom broke Fever superstar Caitlin Clark’s 2024 single-season rookie scoring record with her 770th point on Sunday.
Miles entered the 101-89 win over No. 14 Connecticut tied with Clark at 769. She subsequently added 21 to strengthen her Rookie of the Year odds as WNBA awards season nears.
“It wouldn’t be possible without one, a coach that believes in you, and then two, having teammates that have my back,” she said.
With just four days left in the regular season, the young Lynx guard is also shaking up an increasingly competitive 2026 MVP race.
Eyeing a record-fifth trophy, No. 3 Las Vegas’s A’ja Wilson leads the league in points per game (26.2) and blocks per game (2.0). She additionally ranks fifth in rebounds (9.3).
No. 5 Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell is also in the mix. She broke Wilson’s single-season scoring record with her 1,034th point in Friday’s 103-85 win over No. 13 Toronto — while also topping the WNBA in 3-point percentage (45.6%).
A'ja Wilson's grip on the 2026 WNBA MVP award race keeps tightening. The Las Vegas Aces star is sitting at -1400 (a 93% implied probability) as she chases a fifth trophy — and the latest WNBA betting odds suggest few other players are gaining ground.
Minnesota Rookie Olivia Miles Only Threat to A'ja Wilson's MVP Odds
Still, one name is keeping the conversation interesting.
Olivia Miles's MVP odds with the Minnesota Lynx (+900) make her the the awards race's only other real contender. If she pulls off the upset, she'd become the first rookie to win the award since Candace Parker did it back in 2008.
Beyond the top prize, the rest of the WNBA awards picture is just as lopsided.
How the Rest of the WNBA Awards Race is Shaping Up
Golden State's Gabby Williams has overtaken Wilson for Defensive Player of the Year at -125, while forward Jessica Shepard (-450) has Most Improved Player all but locked up. She's averaging 14.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists in the best season of her career — and her first with the Dallas Wings.
Meanwhile, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve (-1000) is a near-guarantee to add a fifth Coach of the Year award to her decorated résumé. Her rookie point guard's rise coupled with the ways she's managed Napheesa Collier's injury concerns has a lot to do with that.
With the league returning to close out the regular season this week, all eyes will be on individual player stats to settle key races.
Star WNBA rookie Olivia Miles left Wednesday's Lynx vs Valkyries game early with a left ankle injury. However, shorthanded Minnesota managed to pull away to secure the 77-66 win over Golden State.
How Olivia Miles Suffered an Injury Against the Valkyries
The trouble came in the fourth quarter. During a defensive play, Miles accidentally stepped on teammate Napheesa Collier's foot and rolled her ankle. She limped toward the bench, then sat on the court in visible pain before walking gingerly to the locker room.
She did not return.
Afterward, head coach Cheryl Reeve downplayed the moment, saying Miles had only "tweaked" it.
"I don't have any idea where it's at," she shared after the game. "I haven't seen the play yet. So obviously we're hoping that she's okay."
Before her exit, the rookie dominated play for her side. She poured in 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, then added seven assists, two steals, and two blocks across 30 minutes.
Lynx Prepare for WNBA Postseason as Olivia Miles Recovers
Still, the injury should worry Minnesota fans. This isn't her first injury scare this season. Miles rolled the same left ankle against the LA Sparks in July, leaving that game before later returning to the bench.
Miles is the leading Rookie of the Year contender and a key scoring presence on the Lynx, so any absence would sting as Minnesota heads into the WNBA postseason. This latest win keeps them atop the WNBA standings after they secured their 2026 playoff berth earlier this month.
The Lynx next face the Washington Mystics on Friday at 7:30 PM ET on ION.
It’s a battle at the top in Las Vegas, as WNBA playoff locks No. 1 Minnesota and No. 3 Las Vegas square off in tomorrow’s Lynx vs Aces rematch — with postseason seeding on the line.
Both teams boast individual award hopefuls. Aces forward A’ja Wilson leads the WNBA in points (25.9) and blocks (2.1) per game, while sitting third in rebounds with 9.7.
The Lynx have leaned on Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles. She’s averaging 19.8 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game as she makes a case for even larger accolades.
Minnesota and Las Vegas are rounding into postseason form after clinching berths, as the Lynx carry a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s matchup, while the Aces arrive hot off a two-game sweep of the Mystics.
Minnesota took the upper hand last Saturday, surging past Las Vegas 98-87 behind a combined 48 points from Miles and star veteran Napheesa Collier.
“We’re kind of learning how to share the space and get each other touches in the right moments,” Miles said of the pair’s synergy. “I think we’re doing a good job with it.”
Las Vegas hosts Minnesota on Saturday at 8 PM ET (CBS).
The Minnesota Lynx extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 108-100 victory over the Indiana Fever on Sunday at Target Center. The Lynx (25-6) locked down a Fever squad playing its third road game in less than a week, snapping Indiana's five-game winning streak in the process.
Even so, the Fever vs Lynx contest stayed competitive until the final minutes.
Kelsey Mitchell Scores 37 Points in Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx Game
Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 37 points, shooting 14-of-21 from the field and knocking down six 3-pointers. Caitlin Clark finished with 19 points alongside 10 assists, and Aliyah Boston chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
But Minnesota's guards matched that production.
Courtney Williams, Olivia Miles Seal Lynx Victory
Veteran Courtney Williams hit 12 of her 20 shots and finished with 27 points, while rookie Olivia Miles was nearly flawless, going 11-of-14 for 28 points. After Indiana erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to close within two, Miles converted an and-one that pushed the lead back to seven and ended the threat.
Despite the loss, the Fever scored 100-plus points for a sixth consecutive game, marking a new WNBA record. Clearly, offense was not the issue, but the 12 turnovers and zero fast-break points hurt Indiana late in the game.
Minnesota improved to 25-6 with the win while the Fever fell to 19-11.
The Minnesota Lynx rolled to a ninth straight win on Thursday, dismantling the Toronto Tempo 104-72 behind a balanced scoring attack spanning shooters Kayla McBride, Napheesa Collier, and Olivia Miles.
Five players finished in double figures. Yet it was Courtney Williams on defense that drew the biggest postgame praise.
What Did Napheesa Collier Say About Courtney Williams?
Napheesa Collier, recently returned from injury, pointed to Williams as the engine behind the team's recent run. She credited the veteran guard's ability to lock down opposing stars on a nightly basis as the reason for their winning streak.
"Courtney is just such a spark," Collier said. "We can trust her to be on their best offensive player every night… I have all the faith in the world in her as a defender."
Williams backed up that trust with 16 points and five assists in the Lynx vs Tempo rout.
Balanced Offense Powers Minnesota Win in Lynx vs Tempo
But the rest of Minnesota's offensive lineup contributed, too. Collier matched that total with 16 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
Rookie Olivia Miles added another 16, while Kayla McBride chipped in 13. Dorka Juhasz rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12.
At 24-6, Minnesota sits alone atop the Western Conference. The Lynx next host the Indiana Fever on August 2nd at 1 PM ET, live on ABC.
The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx can feel the energy, tipping off the second half of the season atop the WNBA standings — with No. 1 playoff seeding front of mind.
Bolstered by rookie phenom Olivia Miles and fellow 2026 All-Stars Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard, the Lynx already saw a boost via forward Napheesa Collier’s triumphant return from injury last week.
“Phee’s not a player that a lot needs to be run for her,” said coach Cheryl Reeve. “She finds offense because of the way she moves and playing off of others.”
Minnesota faces expansion side Toronto tonight. The Tempo is coming off a three-game losing streak, despite guard Marina Mabrey’s stellar play.
Sitting 10th with 18 regular-season games to go, Toronto could look to sell ahead of Sunday’s midseason trade deadline. However, Minnesota won’t shy away from buying with a possible title run in the works.
“We’re certainly a team that’s been quote ‘open for business,’ open-minded to things that are being talked about,” Reeve said. “It’ll be a busy week for us.”
The Lynx host the Tempo tonight at 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass).