BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A door that was expected to immediately close once the Notre Dame women’s basketball season ended was left ajar by the person who was expected/supposed to shut it.
Irish guard Olivia Miles has one season of collegiate eligibility remaining for 2025-26 if she wants it. She could return to Notre Dame (or even transfer) and be one of the game’s most dynamic guards, dynamic players, just as she was this past season. Miles also could turn pro and be a likely top five choice in the April 14 WNBA draft.
For the longest time, it was assumed that the 5-foot-10 Miles would leave college behind as soon as she could. That she was ready for the next challenge in her basketball life. In the last home game she played this season for Notre Dame, in the second-round victory over Michigan, Miles took the public address microphone after the Irish won and thanked the fans for their support during her career. Just in case that was it.
Miles even admitted afterward that yeah, that was kind of it.
A career that was expected to end when Notre Dame’s season ended. That season ended Saturday with a 71-62 loss to TCU in the NCAA Women’s Tournament Sweet 16.
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Saturday afternoon, Miles wasn’t ready to close that college door.
“I truly do not know what I want to do,” Miles said of her future, which will include a decision of some sort at some time. “I literally have no idea. I need to make a few calls and talk to some people.
“I’m very blessed because I’m in a great position. I could come back and have another year of college or I could play on a good team in the (WNBA).
“Either way, I don’t think I’d lose out.”
That Miles has seen the injury side of college — a right knee injury that cost her all of the 2023-24 season and a sprained left ankle earlier this month — won’t factor into her decision. She doesn’t feel like she must be a pro based on that.
“There’s always a risk,” said Miles, who has played 101 career games. “I could get hurt walking to the bus right now. Injury risk is always a constant whichever way I go.”
But …
“I love college; I think I’ve outgrown it,” Miles said. “That kind of makes my decision tougher to stay.”
Stay, and Miles could stay in her basketball comfort zone. She could play a game that she loves at a place that she loves for a program that she loves. Leave and go pro, and basketball automatically becomes a business. It will be different.
Being one of the draft’s top five picks — maybe top two — would be difficult to ignore.
“Lottery pick is a lot to give up,” she said. “I worked hard for that. I earned that. I truly believe I put myself in a great position for teams to look at me at that level. It’s hard to give that up.”
It also would be difficult for Miles to flip the switch from college to pros immediately. She would be drafted next month and parachute right into training camp. Offseason? There really is none for someone who could use a break from basketball. Especially after this season. Especially after her ankle injury.
“After a tough injury, I’d like to have that offseason,” said Miles. “At the same time, I’m thinking about that top pick. It’s hard to risk that.
“I trust in myself for whatever decision I make. Either decision would be good for me. I’m just trusting in myself. I’ll be confident in my decision that I make, for sure.”
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at [email protected]
