WNBA teams will have to hold off on adding a top talent for at least another year. Olivia Miles, a standout player from Notre Dame, has opted to skip the 2025 draft. Instead, she’ll enter the transfer portal to play one more year in college.
This decision is groundbreaking. According to insiders like Shams Charania, it’s rare for a player projected as a top-2 pick to forgo the draft. Miles had a standout season, earning second-team AP All-American honors. She played all 34 games, averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. She also shot impressively, hitting about 48% from the field and over 40% from three-point range.
Miles did face challenges during the NCAA tournament. She suffered an ankle injury in the first round but managed to keep playing. However, her performance in subsequent games was not at her usual level. In her second-round game against Michigan, she only scored eight points, and in the Sweet 16 against TCU, she netted ten. After the loss, she reflected on the pressure and potential of being a lottery pick, emphasizing how much she had worked to position herself for success.
Ultimately, Miles felt that she needed a fresh start to continue growing before entering the WNBA. Experts believe she will be a highly sought-after player in the transfer portal this season.
As the landscape of college athletics evolves, this trend of top players transferring for additional development might reshape how we view college sports. Recent statistics show that nearly 1,800 NCAA basketball players entered the transfer portal last year, marking a significant increase in player mobility. Such changes highlight the increasing power athletes have over their careers, creating a dynamic environment where every decision is crucial for their future.
In the comments section on social media, fans have expressed mixed feelings about Miles’ choice. Many admire her determination to grow, while others feel she risks missing out on the chance to play professionally sooner. Whatever the outcome, Olivia Miles’ journey will be closely watched as she navigates this pivotal moment in her career.
For more insights into the trends in college sports and the transfer portal’s implications, you can check the latest report from NCAA.
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