The 2025 WNBA Draft is just two weeks away, and surprising news broke on Monday.
ESPN’s Shams Charania announced Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles’s unprecedented decision to forgo the draft. With the release, Miles will enter the NCAA’s transfer portal.
Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles – the projected No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft this month – will forgo the draft and enter NCAA’s transfer portal, sources tell ESPN. The 22-year-old top prospect makes unprecedented decision to use her one year remaining of college instead of the draft. pic.twitter.com/NaODcCzc38
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2025
What’s Next For Olivia Miles And Notre Dame Following Sweet 16 Exit?
Miles played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for four seasons during her collegiate career. Recognized for her exceptional passing and scoring abilities, Miles was projected as a top lottery pick in this year’s draft. In her senior season, she averaged 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field.
The Fighting Irish had an impressive start to the season, achieving a ranking of No. 1 in the Associated Press polls for the first time since 2019. However, Notre Dame’s journey came to an early end when they were eliminated by the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Additionally, the team was ranked the No. 3 seed at the start of the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish were ultimately defeated by the TCU Horned Frogs in the Sweet 16. With the loss marked a disappointing conclusion to their season.
According to ESPN, Miles stated playing in the upcoming WNBA season right away feels daunting. Miles also mentioned she could benefit from the summer to focus on rest and recovery.
“[Potentially being] a lottery pick is a lot to give up. I’ve worked hard for that,” Miles said Saturday. “I truly believe I’ve put myself in great position for teams to look at me and see my value at that level. I have to trust myself with whatever decision I make; either decision would be good for me. I need to make a few calls and talk to some people. But I’ll be prepared and confident in the decision.”
What Path Could The Seattle Storm Take After Mile’s WNBA Draft Decision?
The Seattle Storm holds the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft after acquiring it through a three-team trade that sent Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces and Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Since Loyd’s departure, the team has aimed to fill the void. Even after drafting Nika Mühl last year, the Storm needs a guard to complement Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, both of whom joined the team via 2024 free agency. With these additions, the Storm are set to make a championship run.
Additionally, the team has undergone major changes since Sue Bird’s retirement and Breanna Stewart’s departure for the New York Liberty. Since her exit, Stewart recently led the Liberty to their first WNBA Championship in franchise history.
Sonia Citron, a teammate of Miles at Notre Dame, is one of the top shooting guards in the upcoming WNBA Draft class. They paired well together alongside sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo.
USC senior forward Kiki Iriafen, LSU Tigers forward Aneesah Morrow, and Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore could be possible options for the Storm to entertain with the second overall pick.
How The Olivia Miles Decision Could Impact The 2026 WNBA Draft?
The 2026 WNBA Draft class will feature Azzi Fudd, who announced her return to play for the UConn Huskies. Other top prospects include UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, just to name a few.
There has been a trend of players across the NCAA opting to use the extra year of eligibility due to either the COVID-19 Pandemic or using the redshirt year due to injury. Paige Bueckers, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, decided to use the extra year of eligibility instead of declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft due to missing the 2022-23 season due to a torn ACL injury.
With NIL quickly emerging, the landscape of women’s basketball is shifting right in front of our eyes.
