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 resolution 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 prime prospect makes unprecedented resolution to make use of her one yr remaining of school as an alternative 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 Preventing Irish for 4 seasons throughout her collegiate profession. Acknowledged for her distinctive passing and scoring skills, Miles was projected as a prime lottery decide on this yr’s draft. In her senior season, she averaged 15.4 factors, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, whereas taking pictures 48.3 % from the sphere.
The Preventing 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 Event.
Moreover, the crew was ranked the No. 3 seed initially of the NCAA Event. The Preventing Irish have been in the end defeated by the TCU Horned Frogs within the Candy 16. With the loss marked a disappointing conclusion to their season.
In line with ESPN, Miles said taking part in within the upcoming WNBA season instantly feels daunting. Miles additionally talked about she may gain advantage from the summer time to concentrate on relaxation and restoration.
“[Potentially being] a lottery decide is so much to surrender. I’ve labored exhausting for that,” Miles stated Saturday. “I actually consider I’ve put myself in nice place for groups to have a look at me and see my worth at that stage. I’ve to belief myself with no matter resolution I make; both resolution can be good for me. I have to make a couple of calls and discuss to some individuals. However I will be ready and assured within the resolution.”
What Path Might The Seattle Storm Take After Mile’s WNBA Draft Determination?
The Seattle Storm holds the No. 2 general decide on this yr’s WNBA Draft after buying it by means of 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 crew has aimed to fill the void. Even after drafting Nika Mühl final yr, the Storm wants a guard to enhance Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, each of whom joined the crew through 2024 free company. With these additions, the Storm are set to make a championship run.
Moreover, the crew has undergone main adjustments since Sue Hen’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 prime taking pictures guards within the upcoming WNBA Draft class. They paired effectively collectively alongside sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo.
USC senior ahead Kiki Iriafen, LSU Tigers ahead Aneesah Morrow, and Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore could possibly be attainable choices for the Storm to entertain with the second general decide.
How The Olivia Miles Determination Might Impression The 2026 WNBA Draft?
The 2026 WNBA Draft class will function Azzi Fudd, who introduced her return to play for the UConn Huskies. Different prime prospects embody UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, simply to call a couple of.
There was a development of gamers throughout the NCAA opting to make use of the additional yr of eligibility on account of both the COVID-19 Pandemic or utilizing the redshirt yr on account of damage. Paige Bueckers, the projected No. 1 general decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft, determined to make use of the additional yr of eligibility as an alternative of declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft on account of lacking the 2022-23 season on account of a torn ACL damage.
With NIL shortly rising, the panorama of girls’s basketball is shifting proper in entrance of our eyes.
