Olivia Miles, the standout guard from Notre Dame, has made a surprising decision to bypass the WNBA Draft and enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. This move comes as a shock to many, as the 22-year-old Miles had been widely projected as the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

A four-year player at Notre Dame, Miles still has one season of NCAA eligibility remaining. While the exact reasons for her decision remain unclear, factors such as NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities and the disparity between WNBA salaries and NIL deals may have influenced her choice.

Miles, a 5-foot-10 guard, has been a key player for Notre Dame throughout her college career. In her final season, she averaged an impressive 15.4 points, 5.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 48.3% from the field and 40.6% from beyond the arc on 5.3 attempts per game. Her performance helped lead Notre Dame to a tie for first place in the ACC with NC State and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish were eliminated in the Sweet 16 by TCU.

The decision to enter the transfer portal does not necessarily mean Miles will leave Notre Dame. However, should she transfer, she would depart from a program with a strong tradition of competing for national titles.

As for the WNBA, the Seattle Storm, who hold the No. 2 pick in the draft, will now need to adjust their strategy as Miles opts for another year of college basketball.

Stay updated with more NCAA basketball news as the WNBA Draft and NCAA transfer portal developments continue to unfold