Olivia Miles Shares Funny Exchange With Kayla McBride About Technical Free Throws In Training Camp

The rookies’ WNBA experience began with the preseason games, not only testing their capabilities but also giving them a real taste of playing against top WNBA stars. The Lynx are already short on many positions with injuries to key players hitting the roster hard. This handed their 2026 rookie Olivia Miles a start and extra responsibility on the floor.

In two games so far, the player has impressed everyone with her gameplay, both offensively and defensively. Candace Parker also lauded the guard, predicting an absurd WBBA redemption. Coach Reeves also trusted her with a technical free-throw responsibility. But the reality hit hard for the rookie after she spoke with senior star Kayla McBride.

Olivia Miles Talks About Technical Free Throw Shooting With Kayla McBride

The 2026 WNBA Season will have many top rookies showcasing their abilities on the floor, with one of the deepest draft classes in the WNBA. Yet there is one thing that might remain constant in the league, and that’s trust in the senior player for the technical free throws, which can be taken by any player on the floor.

While Miles had been taking the technical free throws in the preseason games, she opened up on the discussions with her senior, McBride, about the same, as she said, “I went over to K-Mac, and I said, ‘You’re gonna take these from me when you get back.’ And she was like ‘oh yeah’. So just enjoying while I can.”

Liv said she’s enjoying shooting technical free throws for now, and had a funny exchange with KMAC about about it, because she knows that’ll be KMAC’s job when she returns to the court 😂 https://t.co/uWQk8a6LxX pic.twitter.com/k2sc2Eh8B7

— Vanshay Murdock🎥 NEW ACCOUNT (@mvanshay) April 28, 2026

McBride had been an excellent shooter in the league and netted over 94% of her free throws. She is even Sophie Cunningham’s Mount Rushmore for best shooters, where the Fever star ditched her teammate, Caitlin Clark, from the list.

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Kayla McBride has a distinct advantage in proven, elite-level WNBA free-throw efficiency. Olivia Miles enters the league as a superior playmaker with developing shooting skills. Yet the player is looking to make the most of the opportunity.

Olivia Miles Aiming For More Game Time At Minnesota Lynx

As the second overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, every holds high expectations for the TCU star. She is also not holding back and looking to get back on the floor as much as possible, as she spoke about her coach’s trust in her in a recent interview.

“I think I’m in this position for a reason,” Miles said. “Obviously, [coach Cheryl Reeve] sees something in me and believes in me. She would not have me out there if she didn’t think I could do it. So, yeah, it’s a privilege. You have to look at it through a positive lens, or else I’ll stress myself out.”

FINAL IN DC ⤵️

The @minnesotalynx defeat the Mystics, 77-66, in preseason action!

Saylor Poffenbarger: 9 PTS | 13 REB
Jaylyn Sherrod: 9 PTS | 2 STL
Olivia Miles: 8 PTS | 3 REB | 2 AST pic.twitter.com/BVZ3H02uYr

— WNBA (@WNBA) April 26, 2026

Interestingly, Cheryl Reeves also mentioned that Courtney Williams will have a similar role in 2026 despite adding an elite playmaker via draft. So far, the player has made a great impression on her and might force her to change her mind, making an even bigger impact in games.