Olivia Miles Prioritizes College Basketball Over the WNBA
TCU’s talented guard, Olivia Miles, surprised many by deciding to stay in college basketball instead of entering the WNBA draft this year, where she was projected as a lottery pick. Miles, who transferred from Notre Dame for his final season, expressed that he prefers to observe the ongoing WNBA negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement from afar.After TCU eliminated Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 in March, Miles was expected to declare for the draft. However, he opted to transfer to TCU and use his final year of eligibility. Miles is projected as number 2 in the 2026 WNBA draft. The player acknowledges that there is a lot at stake with the negotiations of the new collective bargaining agreement, which must be signed before the league proceeds with the expansion draft, the lottery for the 2026 draft, and free agency. All this will impact her future, but for now she puts it aside.“The WNBA is handling its own business [with the CBA] while we watch,” commented Miles, 22, during Big 12 women’s basketball media day. “So, let them sort it out, and for one more year, I’ll enjoy college basketball.”
Olivia Miles
Miles has a lot to achieve in college basketball. TCU is the preseason favorite in the Big 12, according to the league’s coaches. Miles was a three-time All-ACC first-team selection at Notre Dame, where he averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in 101 games. She missed the 2022-2023 postseason and the entire 2023-2024 season due to a knee injury. Although she averaged 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists last season for the Irish, she didn’t feel completely sure of her readiness for the WNBA, so she decided not to participate in the 2025 draft.“Right now, it’s all opinions about what’s going to change,” Miles said about the CBA. “We hear there will be a lot of player movement and the league will look different next season. So, for now, I’m just prioritizing what’s in front of me. I’ll start thinking about everything else later.”
Olivia Miles
Miles added that mentally he wasn’t in the best shape. He had a great season last year, but he wanted to be more consistent, disciplined, and in better physical shape. Therefore, returning to TCU seemed right to him, especially with his style of play. The Horned Frogs had a standout season in 2024-2025, with a 34-4 record, winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles before reaching the Elite Eight, unprecedented achievements for the program. TCU lost four senior starters and needed experience and talent. Miles, the Big 12 preseason freshman of the year, brings that, and coach Mark Campbell’s program offers a pick-and-roll offensive system that will help Miles when she turns pro after this season.“There was a lot I could leave on the table,” Miles said, adding with a smile: “My parents thought I was crazy. Everyone thought I was crazy. I still hear comments like: ‘It doesn’t make sense. Why would she go back? Why did she go there?’
Olivia Miles
“She will be the dominant player with the ball and will have a lot of participation; all our actions will be executed through her,” said Campbell. “I wanted to use this year to really put her mind in order and prepare for the professionals. And she has behaved like a professional from day one.”
Mark Campbell
