In the dynamic world of college sports, player transfers can often send shockwaves through the community. Such was the case when the news broke that Olivia Miles, a star player for the Notre Dame women's basketball team, was leaving the university. This unexpected decision has left fans, analysts, and fellow players alike asking the question: why is Olivia Miles leaving Notre Dame?
The Surprising Decision
Olivia Miles' departure from Notre Dame came as a major surprise to many. She was a highly - regarded player for the Fighting Irish, having made significant contributions to the team since her arrival in 2021 as a five - star prospect. Miles started in 95 of her 101 games for Notre Dame and had an impressive list of accolades. She was named first - team all - ACC, second - team all - American by the Associated Press (AP), and third - team all - American by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). Given her success at Notre Dame, her decision to leave was met with widespread astonishment.
The Transfer Portal and Postponing the WNBA
Rather than entering the 2025 WNBA draft, as many had expected, Miles chose to enter the transfer portal. In an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report, she opened up about the difficult decision - making process. "It's been crazy, the fastest week of my entire life. I had to decide in 48 hours - my future and whether I wanted to go to the draft or stay another year," she said. Ultimately, she decided that she needed some extra time before turning pro and felt that a transfer to TCU would be the best fit for her development.
Building Leadership Skills
One reason Miles cited for her departure was the lack of time to develop her leadership skills fully. She explained that her sophomore year was cut short due to an injury, and she sat out her junior year. Then, in her senior year, she was suddenly named a captain. "So it was a quick adjustment for me, and I didn't feel like I had enough time to build my leadership skills as well as I wanted to," she said. By transferring to TCU, she hopes to have more time to grow in this area and become a more natural leader on the court.
Team Environment and Change
Another factor that could have influenced Miles' decision is the overall team environment at Notre Dame. LSU Tigers star Flau’jae Johnson, who also opted against declaring for the draft, expressed her surprise at the number of players leaving Notre Dame. "I was surprised at the whole dang near whole Notre Dame team leaving. That was crazy," she said. While it's not clear if this was a direct influence on Miles, a changing team dynamic and potentially a shift in the program's direction could have contributed to her decision to seek a new environment.
Future Aspirations
Miles' decision to transfer also ties into her long - term goals. By choosing to play one more year in college at TCU, she aims to further develop her skills and habits in a way that will better prepare her for the professional level. Despite Candace Parker, a three - time WNBA champion, believing that Miles is already WNBA - ready, Miles herself feels that she has more room to grow. In the 2024 - 25 season, she averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, shooting 48.3% overall and 40.6% from the field. At TCU, she will look to build on these numbers and refine her game.
Olivia Miles' decision to leave Notre Dame is a complex one, influenced by a combination of personal, team - related, and future - oriented factors. As she embarks on this new chapter at TCU, fans and analysts will be closely watching to see how her game continues to develop and what the future holds for this talented basketball player.