Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports
Under the Pressure of Change, Diamond Miller Is Ready to Shine for the Lynx
The Lynx dynasty is shifting its attention to its next ring, even if it may take some time (and pressure) to materialize. The only question now is how many carats the diamond will be.
Minnesota selected Diamond Miller with the second pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, bringing the guard out of Maryland into a franchise best known for winning four championships in seven seasons (’11, ’13, ’15, ’17). Miller was, alongside No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston, widely expected to be one of the lottery picks this year, and when her name was called by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Monday, the former Terp almost looked more relieved than surprised—for good reason.
Just one year out from a knee surgery (following a 2021–22 season spent playing on a fractured kneecap) that would have kept many players off the court for close to a year, Miller was on the other side of her senior season and an Elite Eight appearance, hugging her dad and walking up onstage to pose alongside the next uniform she’ll don in her basketball career: a sleeveless, dark-blue jersey with green lining the edges.
At 6'3", Miller is heralded as a pro-ready player, with the versatility, quickness and effectiveness—especially in transition—needed to make her a physical threat in both the college and professional game.
But it’s the 22-year-old’s mentality that will make her a strong rookie for the Lynx (assuming she makes the roster, which is a safe guess). Cheryl Reeve, president of basketball operations and head coach in Minnesota, said the key to success in the league is a balance of humility and confidence.
“She’s got a lot of confidence. It’s what separates all these players. They believe that—the really good ones—believe that they can do anything, and that's something that I think is enjoyable to coach,” Reeve said Thursday.
The coach pointed to 2019 draft pick Napheesa Collier as an example, calling her a “sponge” who was open to listening and learning about the league. Four days later, the very same word came out of Miller’s mouth, minutes after hearing her own name called at Spring Studios in Tribeca: “I’m just constantly trying to develop and be a sponge to the game,” the guard said Monday.
And Miller isn’t scared. She’s ready for the next step after being at Maryland for the past four years, having stayed in College Park through injury and an unfamiliar roster after the transfer portal left her as the lone returning starter this year. Her loyalty to Maryland paid off: Miller averaged 19.7 points per game, the most by a Terp since Brionna Jones, and established herself as the next in a long list of Maryland players to make it to the professional level. (Eighteen Terps have been drafted into the league since it began in 1997, and eight alumni are currently on rosters.)
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Following the retirement of Lynx stars Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore, Miller is joining the franchise in a crucial time of transition. (“That’s some big shoes to fill,” she said.) Whoever’s name was called second Monday would have likely seen a lot of playing time in the upcoming season, but Miller is particularly well-equipped to take advantage of that opportunity. Not only did playing under Maryland coach Brenda Frese help prepare her for Reeve’s toughness and passion, Miller said, but the guard’s ability to embrace change—while also knowing what she brings to the table, that it’s her story and her success no matter where she is starting anew—is an asset.
“My expectation is just to be Diamond Miller every time I step on the court,” she said. “The player
you see right now or the last game I played, I’m not going to be in another two years.”
If Miller’s pro ready at 22 (and has been for years now, as was brought up by ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo, who remembers watching her while in the Wubble), imagine the player she is going to be then. With Diamond Miller, the Lynx may have another ring on their hands—and this one would really sparkle.
