Olivia Miles reveals why Caitlin Clark is so annoying to play against

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles was asked what it is like to play against Caitlin Clark.
She gave an honest answer.
It is not about flopping.
It is not about complaining to officials.
It is about Clark’s skill set.
Miles appeared on the Old Man and the Three podcast hosted by Tommy Alter.
She explained what makes Clark “annoying” to guard.
“I mean, obviously Caitlin with the shooting and her playmaking ability,” Miles said.
“She’s so good with her right hand attacking downhill and creating for others.”
“And obviously in transition she’s deadly.”
“So it is annoying to play against, right?”
“You’ve got to guard her, and you’ve got to make sure that you have bodies on her.”
Miles was the unanimous 2026 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.

She averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
She started in 40 games this season.
She was a major reason the Lynx finished as the best team in the Western Conference.
Clark averaged 22.3 points and 8.3 assists for the Indiana Fever.
Her “basketball gravity” makes her a dangerous playmaker who racks up assists.
Teams have to account for her at all times.
That forces defenses to shift and opens up teammates.
Miles and Clark have met once in a WNBA game.
In that matchup, Miles scored 28 points with eight assists.
Clark produced 19 points and 10 assists.
The Fever lost 108-100.
Miles is set to play in Season 3 of Unrivaled this upcoming year.
Clark and Miles are part of a new generation of elite WNBA guards.
Paige Bueckers is also in that group.
The league is in good hands with this trio.
Some fans assume Clark is annoying because of her alleged flopping and complaining to referees.
Miles did not mention any of that.
She focused entirely on Clark’s basketball ability.
The shooting range.
The playmaking vision.
The right-hand drive.
The transition speed.
All of it adds up to a player who demands constant attention.
Miles’s comments offer a rare inside look at what it feels like to guard Clark.
Most opponents do not go into detail.
Miles did.

She spoke as a fellow elite guard who has faced Clark and knows exactly what the challenge is.
The rivalry between the Lynx and the Fever could grow in the coming years.
Both teams have young star guards.
Both teams are competitive in their conferences.
Every matchup between Miles and Clark will draw attention.
Their first meeting already produced high-level basketball.
Future games could be even better.
Miles made it clear that Clark is not just a shooter.
She is a complete offensive threat.
Guarding her requires a team effort.
One defender is not enough.
That is why Miles said you need “bodies on her.”
Clark’s ability to create for others makes her even harder to contain.

If you double-team her, she finds the open player.
If you play her one-on-one, she scores.
That is the dilemma every defense faces.
Miles laid it out plainly.
The WNBA is watching this rivalry develop.
Fans are eager for more matchups.
The league benefits from having two young stars who push each other.
Clark’s impact goes beyond scoring.
Her gravity warps defensive schemes.
That is what makes her “annoying” in the best sense of the word.
Miles’s take is a respect-filled assessment from a peer who knows the game.
She did not criticize Clark.
She described the reality of competing against a generational talent.

The podcast clip has already circulated among WNBA fans.
It adds a new layer to the Clark-Miles story.
Both players are just getting started.
Their careers will likely intersect many times.
Each meeting will be a test of skill and adjustment.
Miles has shown she can compete with Clark.
Clark has shown she can dominate any opponent.
The balance between them makes for compelling basketball.
Miles’s willingness to speak honestly about the challenge is refreshing.
She did not dodge the question.
She answered it with specifics.
That kind of candor is rare in professional sports.
It gives fans a clearer picture of what happens on the court.
Clark’s game speaks for itself.
Miles’s words confirm what the numbers show.
Clark is a nightmare to guard.
And the league is better for it.
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