770 Points: Olivia Miles Passes Clark's Rookie Mark

Photo: WNBA.com. Official Olivia Miles headshot, Minnesota Lynx.

The free throw dropped 29 seconds into the second quarter at Mohegan Sun Arena, and Olivia Miles had 770.

Miles passed Caitlin Clark's WNBA rookie scoring record of 769 points in her 40th game, the same game count Clark needed, then finished with 21 points, three rebounds, and six assists in Minnesota's 101-89 win over Connecticut on Sunday.

She walked into Uncasville tied with Clark at 769. Scoreless through the first quarter. Then the charity stripe at the 11:31 mark of the second, and the ledger flipped. The Associated Press clocked the record on that free throw. Both rookies hit the mark in 40 games. Clark's 769 was the old ceiling. Miles left the building with the new one and a full box: 7-of-10 from the field, 6-of-6 at the line, plus the six dimes that keep the Lynx offense from turning into a Collier-only night.

Napheesa Collier led with 23 points and six rebounds. Kayla McBride added 14 and six assists. Courtney Williams scored 11. Minnesota stays atop the West with the best record in the league. Connecticut sat at home with 8,911 in the seats and no answer for a rookie who entered the afternoon at 19.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds a night.

The draft board already framed this. Miles went second overall after Notre Dame and TCU. The Lynx did not draft a spot-up filler. They drafted a guard who can score on volume and still feed McBride and Collier when the help loads the strong side. Passing Clark's rookie points record in the same 40-game window is the public receipt on that bet. Franchise film already had a prior checkpoint: on Aug. 30 against Atlanta, Miles passed Seimone Augustus for the Lynx single-season rookie scoring mark at 749. Sunday moved the conversation from Minnesota history to league history.

Clark's record stood as the measuring stick for every high-usage rookie guard who followed. Miles did not need a 40-point splash to clear it. She needed a free throw after a scoreless first quarter, then enough finishing to post 21 on a road win against a Sun team already out of the playoff picture. Playoff basketball will grade the next film. The regular-season ledger already grades the usage: 770 is the new rookie floor for the conversation, and it belongs to a Lynx guard on a 1-seed track.

Photo: Minnesota Lynx / WNBA.com (Getty Images). Olivia Miles #5 Minnesota Lynx in-game still.

Sources

• Associated Press via Sportsnet. Miles broke Clark's WNBA rookie points record at 770 on a free throw 29 seconds into the second quarter. Entered tied at 769. Scoreless first quarter. Second overall pick after Notre Dame and TCU. Entering averages 19.7 points, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds. Both marks in 40 games. Published Sep 20, 2026, 2:31 p.m.
• Associated Press via CBS Minnesota. Same AP wire. Published Sep 20, 2026.
• ESPN story / AP. Final 101-89. Miles 21 points. Record in 40 games.
• ESPN box / summary gameId 401857201. Miles 21 points (7-10 FG, 6-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 6 assists in 30 minutes. Collier 23/6. McBride 14 and 6 assists. Courtney Williams 11. Attendance 8,911. Mohegan Sun Arena.
• Minnesota Lynx: Miles Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month (August). Aug. 30 vs Atlanta: Miles passed Seimone Augustus' franchise single-season rookie scoring record (749) after a 21-point game. Secondary franchise context.
• Photos: WNBA.com Miles 1643426. Lynx CDN GettyImages-2288662189.