Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles Enters Transfer Portal, Declines WNBA Draft

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Olivia Miles, the star guard for Notre Dame, has entered the NCAA transfer portal and will forgo the upcoming 2025 WNBA Draft. This decision comes after a season where she averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per game, illustrating her value as one of the top prospects in women’s college basketball.

A source close to Miles confirmed her decision on Monday following the Fighting Irish’s Sweet 16 exit at the hands of TCU on Saturday. Despite being a projected No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA draft, Miles has opted to explore her options in the transfer portal, allowing her to retain her remaining year of eligibility.

In a postgame interview, Miles expressed her uncertainty regarding her future, saying, “I am still thinking about what I want to do, but leaning towards the draft. But tomorrow, I might wake up and be like, ‘I want to come back.’ So it just changes every day. I love college. I think I’ve outgrown it a little bit, though, so that makes my decision tougher to stay. It’s comfortable, a place where you have security.”

The 22-year-old playmaker missed the entire previous season due to a knee injury but had returned to impress this year, showcasing a well-rounded skill set that includes playmaking and improved shooting from beyond the arc. Her performance has led general managers to refer to her as “the second safest pick after Paige Bueckers.”

As the transfer portal opens, the dynamics of college basketball are rapidly changing. Programs across the nation are looking to bolster their rosters, especially with several standout players entering the portal, including Ta'Niya Latson from Florida State, who led the nation in scoring this season with an average of 25.2 points per game.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s roster will see significant changes as well, with standout point guard Hannah Hidalgo expected to return, but the absence of Miles and possibly other key players like Sonia Citron mean the Fighting Irish will need to make strategic moves to maintain their competitive edge.

Moving forward, Miles has the option to withdraw from the portal and return to Notre Dame, but as she weighs her choices, many programs are undoubtedly monitoring her status closely. With numerous teams seeking to elevate their own programs through key acquisitions from the transfer portal, Miles’s next steps will undoubtedly impact the future landscape of women’s college basketball.