Projected 2nd overall pick Olivia Miles shunning WNBA Draft to stay in college stuns fans: “NIL will earn her more”

Notre Dame point guard Olivia Miles was projected to be picked by the Seattle Storm with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft.

Projected 2nd overall pick Olivia Miles shunning WNBA Draft to stay in college stuns fans: “NIL will earn her more”

Notre Dame's Olivia Miles forgoing WNBA Draft

Ahead of the 2025 WNBA season, all eyes are on March Madness and how scouts find those minute details from the top players expected to go to the Draft. Olivia Miles and Notre Dame were expected to be one of the programs contending for the NCAA Championship, but they could not.

They fell to Hailey Van Lith and the TCU Horned Frogs in what was deemed as the upset of the tournament. Notre Dame had some eyebrow raising wins in the regular season over the likes of UConn, USC and Texas.

Those are the other three teams fighting for a place in the Final Four. But Notre Dame could not reach even the Elite Eight, probing questions on their ability to perform under pressure. But despite all that, many Mock Draft’s projected Olivia Miles to go No. 2 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Her performances throughout the season saw her rise up the boards, and many were convinced she was one of the most exciting point guards in this draft. However, it seems she does not want leave college yet as Shams Charania revealed.

Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles – the projected No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft this month – will forgo the draft and enter NCAA’s transfer portal, sources tell ESPN. The 22-year-old top prospect makes unprecedented decision to use her one year remaining of college instead of the draft.

Shams Charania said

Before Paige Bueckers declared for the WNBA Draft, many speculated she would sit out this season and then sign next year. The logic was based off the fact that a new CBA will come into effect next season, possibly bringing about major increases in player contracts.

Fans shocked with Olivia Miles’ decision

Women’s basketball fans believe Olivia Miles’ decision is based off that logic. She probably does not want to end up signing the paltry contract Caitlin Clark and others signed. Fans though cannot believe she is throwing away the chance to become a lottery pick.

Fans know an injury next season can make this decision look bad. But they also believe, by entering the transfer portal, the guard is betting on herself. She wants to make the most of her chances and declare next year. Check out examples of those fan comments below.

There is a sliver of a chance that 22-year-old decides to continue with Notre Dame. In the event she does not, it means she will likely field top offers from other programs. She will make a ton of money before she goes pro, making the WNBA look like the ones who lost out.

Other reasons might have pushed Olivia Miles to stay in college

Olivia Miles was projected to go No. 2 overall to the Seattle Storm. Their own point guard, Skylar Diggins-Smith is a former Notre Dame alum and has worked out with Miles before. She has been talking up about their chances of drafting her.

However, a controversy overshadowed the Storm’s season. Accusations of bullying and SDS’s use of profanity was a bit too much for others. This led to an investigation, however, nothing turned up. Eventually franchise cornerstone Jewell Loyd, who had initiated that complaint, handed in a trade request.

This could have played a decision. Along with that, Miles could get some minutes in her rookie season. However, to get full starter minutes, she would have to wait until either SDS retired, or the team moved on from the veteran.

Now that Miles has decided to stay put, the Seattle Storm will have to rethink their draft priorities. This will also impact the rest of the WNBA Draft, as several players will change positions on the boards as teams look at both needs as well as the player’s impact.