Olivia Miles delivered another defining performance in her rookie season Saturday, scoring 26 points and adding seven assists as the Las Vegas Aces fell 98-87. Facing a team that won the first meeting and matching up with a four-time MVP, Miles again showed why her first WNBA campaign has become a record-setting one.

What happened

Miles drove the result with both her scoring and playmaking. Her 26 points supplied a major share of the offense, while her seven assists repeatedly created additional scoring opportunities against Las Vegas.

The performance came after the Aces won the first meeting 100-97 in June. This time, Miles helped produce an 11-point outcome, giving the rookie another notable showing against Las Vegas and one of the league’s most accomplished individual opponents.

Why it matters

Saturday’s production strengthens Miles’ case for Rookie of the Year. Her season had already moved into the WNBA record book before this matchup, and the combination of volume scoring and passing added another significant entry to that résumé.

Miles set a WNBA rookie record with 24 first-half points on June 18. Her 26-point performance against the Aces did not stand alone as a single-game surge; it extended a season in which she has already established a historic scoring benchmark.

The matchup also offered a demanding stage for that case. Miles was not simply compiling numbers in a low-profile setting, but producing against Las Vegas while matched with a four-time MVP.

By the numbers

Miles directly generated at least 40 points through her own scoring and her seven assists. That figure captures the breadth of her impact: 26 points finished personally, with at least 14 more created for others.

Her output was especially important in a game decided by 11 points. The Aces scored 87, three fewer than they recorded in their 100-97 victory in the June meeting, while Miles’ scoring and distribution helped push the opposing total to 98.

What to watch next

The teams are scheduled to meet again Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. That rematch will give the Aces another opportunity after Saturday’s loss and provide Miles with another prominent test in her record-setting rookie season.

Attention will remain on whether Miles can sustain the same balance between scoring and creation. Another productive outing against Las Vegas would add further weight to a Rookie of the Year argument that already includes a league rookie record and Saturday’s 26-point, seven-assist performance.