Diana Taurasi Compares WNBA Rookie Olivia Miles To NBA Point God

The WNBA has no shortage of young stars, but Diana Taurasi believes Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles belongs in a class of her own.

During an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the WNBA legend praised Miles as a “special talent” and compared elements of her game to NBA superstar Kyrie Irving.

“I think she was a little under-the-radar because she did leave Notre Dame, and she went to TCU, which is a bit of a smaller school,” Taurasi said. “But this kid is doing stuff … She has Kyrie-like handles. She can shoot the basketball. She can get in the lane.”

Taurasi’s comparison isn’t exactly subtle. Miles has shown the kind of ball-handling ability and creativity around the basket that made Irving one of the NBA’s most difficult players to defend.

More importantly, Taurasi believes Miles landed in the perfect situation to develop into a perennial star. Minnesota entered the season with championship expectations, giving Miles the opportunity to learn within an already-loaded roster rather than being asked to carry a struggling franchise from Day 1. Napheesa Collier’s injury also forced Miles into a larger role early, allowing the rookie to prove she could handle the pressure.

“She’s in the perfect scenario for her to really be in the driver’s seat in this league for the next 10-12 years,” Taurasi said.

That sounds like a pretty strong endorsement from one of the greatest players in WNBA history.

Miles has backed up the hype, averaging 19.7 points, 6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game during her rookie campaign. The Lynx are 31-9 and sit atop the WNBA standings with four regular-season games remaining.

Minnesota is currently the favorite to win the WNBA championship, and if this happens, Miles will be a big part of their historic run.