The 2025 WNBA Draft is simply two weeks away, and stunning information broke on Monday.
ESPN’s Shams Charania introduced Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles’s unprecedented choice to forgo the draft. With the discharge, Miles will enter the NCAA’s switch portal.
Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles – the projected No. 2 decide within the WNBA draft this month – will forgo the draft and enter NCAA’s switch portal, sources inform ESPN. The 22-year-old high prospect makes unprecedented choice to make use of her one 12 months remaining of school as a substitute of the draft. pic.twitter.com/NaODcCzc38
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2025
What’s Subsequent For Olivia Miles And Notre Dame Following Candy 16 Exit?
Miles performed for the Notre Dame Combating Irish for 4 seasons throughout her collegiate profession. Acknowledged for her distinctive passing and scoring talents, Miles was projected as a high lottery decide on this 12 months’s draft. In her senior season, she averaged 15.4 factors, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, whereas capturing 48.3 p.c from the sphere.
The Combating Irish had a powerful begin to the season, reaching a rating of No. 1 within the Related Press polls for the primary time since 2019. Nonetheless, Notre Dame’s journey got here to an early finish after they have been eradicated by the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils within the second spherical of the ACC Match.
Moreover, the group was ranked the No. 3 seed in the beginning of the NCAA Match. The Combating Irish have been finally defeated by the TCU Horned Frogs within the Candy 16. With the loss marked a disappointing conclusion to their season.
In accordance with ESPN, Miles acknowledged taking part in within the upcoming WNBA season instantly feels daunting. Miles additionally talked about she may gain advantage from the summer season to deal with relaxation and restoration.
“[Potentially being] a lottery decide is loads to surrender. I’ve labored laborious for that,” Miles stated Saturday. “I really imagine I’ve put myself in nice place for groups to take a look at me and see my worth at that degree. I’ve to belief myself with no matter choice I make; both choice could be good for me. I have to make just a few calls and discuss to some individuals. However I will be ready and assured within the choice.”
What Path Might The Seattle Storm Take After Mile’s WNBA Draft Choice?
The Seattle Storm holds the No. 2 total decide on this 12 months’s WNBA Draft after buying it via a three-team commerce that despatched Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces and Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Since Loyd’s departure, the group has aimed to fill the void. Even after drafting Nika Mühl final 12 months, the Storm wants a guard to enrich Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, each of whom joined the group by way of 2024 free company. With these additions, the Storm are set to make a championship run.
Moreover, the group has undergone main modifications since Sue Chicken’s retirement and Breanna Stewart’s departure for the New York Liberty. Since her exit, Stewart not too long ago led the Liberty to their first WNBA Championship in franchise historical past.
Sonia Citron, a teammate of Miles at Notre Dame, is likely one of the high capturing guards within the upcoming WNBA Draft class. They paired properly collectively alongside sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo.
USC senior ahead Kiki Iriafen, LSU Tigers ahead Aneesah Morrow, and Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore could possibly be potential choices for the Storm to entertain with the second total decide.
How The Olivia Miles Choice Might Influence The 2026 WNBA Draft?
The 2026 WNBA Draft class will characteristic Azzi Fudd, who introduced her return to play for the UConn Huskies. Different high prospects embrace UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, simply to call just a few.
There was a pattern of gamers throughout the NCAA opting to make use of the additional 12 months of eligibility because of both the COVID-19 Pandemic or utilizing the redshirt 12 months because of harm. Paige Bueckers, the projected No. 1 total decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft, determined to make use of the additional 12 months of eligibility as a substitute of declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft because of lacking the 2022-23 season because of a torn ACL harm.
With NIL shortly rising, the panorama of ladies’s basketball is shifting proper in entrance of our eyes.
