Lynx defeat Valkyries 77-66 amid Miles ankle injury

The Minnesota Lynx defeated the Golden State Valkyries 77-66 on Wednesday night in San Francisco, extending their winning streak to five games and solidifying their position atop the WNBA standings. The victory, however, was overshadowed by an injury to rookie star Olivia Miles, who left the game late in the fourth quarter with a left ankle injury.

Miles was the catalyst for the Lynx from the opening tip, scoring 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, while adding seven assists. She controlled the game against a Valkyries defense known for its disruptive pressure, a unit that had limited Paige Bueckers to an inefficient performance just two nights earlier. Minnesota built a commanding 41-26 halftime lead and never trailed, with Miles and Napheesa Collier combining for 21 first-half points.

The Valkyries mounted a comeback in the second half, using a 13-2 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to cut a 22-point deficit to seven on two occasions. Each time, veteran guard Kayla McBride answered with a crucial basket. McBride finished with 20 points, including a pivotal three-pointer with three minutes remaining that pushed the lead back to...