Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles, projected as the No. 2 pick in the WNBA Draft, has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal rather than declare for this year’s draft. According to ESPN, Miles will play one more year of college basketball instead of pursuing a professional career.
Miles, 22, is still considered a top talent and has played four seasons at Notre Dame, with one season of eligibility remaining. The reason behind her decision is unclear, but the possibility of NIL opportunities could be a factor, as they may be more attractive than the salaries offered by the WNBA.
The Seattle Storm, who hold the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft, will now have to look elsewhere for their top prospect. Miles was expected to lead Notre Dame to another successful season, having already led the team to a first-place tie in the ACC and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Although entering the portal doesn’t guarantee that Miles will transfer out of Notre Dame, it leaves the program in a unique position after their recent Sweet 16 run.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/college-basketball/article/notre-dames-olivia-miles-a-projected-top-2-pick-will-reportedly-enter-ncaa-transfer-portal-rather-than-declare-for-wnba-draft-005919198.html