Olivia Miles Postpones Jump to the WNBA: Prioritizes College Basketball

Olivia Miles Prioritizes Her College Career Over the WNBA

The talented basketball player, Olivia Miles, has decided to focus on her college career, choosing to stay in college basketball instead of making the jump to the WNBA at this time. Miles, who joined TCU after transferring from Notre Dame for his final season, has chosen to observe the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement debate from afar.

“The WNBA is handling its own business [with the CBA] while we watch,” Miles stated. “So, let them handle it, and for one more year, I’ll enjoy college basketball.”

Olivia Miles

After Miles’ season with the Fighting Irish ended in March, many expected him to declare for the draft. However, he opted to transfer and use his remaining season of eligibility at TCU. Miles acknowledges the importance of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, which must be signed before the league proceeds with the expansion draft, the lottery for the 2026 regular draft, and free agency. Although his future will be affected by these changes, Miles has decided to postpone reflection on them for now.

“Right now, it’s all opinions about what’s going to change,” Miles said about the collective bargaining agreement. “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 has a lot to achieve in college. 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 she 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. Miles said that, despite averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists last season for the Irish, she still wasn’t 100% sure of her readiness for the WNBA. Therefore, she did not declare for the 2025 draft.

“[The lottery’s potential] was too much to leave on the table,” Miles said, adding with a smile, “My parents thought I was crazy. Everyone thought I was crazy. In fact, I still hear comments like: ‘It doesn’t make sense. Why would she go back? Why did she go there?’

Olivia Miles

Miles explained that she didn’t feel mentally prepared yet and was looking for greater consistency, discipline, and a better physical form. The opportunity at TCU, especially with its style of play, seemed like the right decision to her. The Horned Frogs had a successful 2024-2025 season, with a 34-4 record and 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 goes to the professional league after this season. “She’s going to be the dominant player with the ball, and she’s going to have the usage; all our actions will revolve around her,” Campbell said. “She wanted to use this year to really get her mind right and prepare for the pros. And she’s behaved like a professional from day one.”