The Minnesota Lynx have been the class of the WNBA this season, and much of that success has been fueled by rookie sensation Olivia Miles.
Selected No. 2 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Miles has looked like a seasoned veteran from the opening tip of her professional career. She's become one of the league's premier guards while helping Minnesota race to the WNBA's best record, putting herself firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation and even drawing early MVP consideration.
That's what made Thursday's announcement somewhat surprising.
USA Basketball officially unveiled its 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, and while stars such as Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and A'ja Wilson made the team, Miles was not among those selected. The announcement immediately sparked discussion across social media, with many fans questioning why one of the league's brightest young stars was left off the roster.
Olivia Miles Has Been One of the WNBA's Biggest Breakout Stars
Leaving Miles off the roster is notable considering the remarkable season she's putting together.
Through 29 games, the 23-year-old guard is averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds while shooting an outstanding 50.2% from the field, 38.0% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line.
She's been a major reason Minnesota owns a league-best 25-6 record and enters Thursday night's matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks riding a 10-game winning streak.
Miles is also coming off one of the best performances of her young career. In Sunday's victory over the Indiana Fever, she poured in 28 points on an efficient 11-of-14 shooting while adding four rebounds, six assists and a block, helping the Lynx knock off Caitlin Clark and company.
Considering those numbers, plenty of fans expected the rookie to earn a spot on Team USA.
Instead, she'll have to wait for another opportunity.
The Future Remains Incredibly Bright
While Thursday's news is undoubtedly disappointing, it shouldn't overshadow what Miles has already accomplished.
USA Basketball traditionally builds its World Cup roster around established veterans and proven international performers, making competition for the final few spots incredibly difficult even for players enjoying breakout seasons.
Miles has already shown she belongs among the league's elite, and at just 23 years old, she's likely to have multiple chances to represent Team USA in future international competitions.
In fact, Yahoo Sports identified Miles as one of the biggest snubs from this year's roster after the announcement, a testament to how highly she's already regarded around the basketball world.
For the Lynx, there may even be a silver lining.
Without international commitments over the coming weeks, Miles can keep her full attention on Minnesota's pursuit of a WNBA championship. With the postseason quickly approaching, the rookie guard now has another source of motivation as she continues building what has already become one of the most impressive debut seasons the league has seen in recent years.
