KANSAS CITY — TCU guard Olivia Miles mentioned she is aware of many have been stunned she bypassed being a possible lottery decide within the WNBA draft earlier this yr to stay in school.
However with the WNBA’s ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, Miles, who transferred from Notre Dame for her remaining season, mentioned she is content material to watch that debate from afar.
“The WNBA is determining their very own stuff [with the CBA] as we’re watching,” Miles, 22, instructed ESPN on Tuesday at Massive 12 girls’s basketball media day. “So, allow them to determine it out, and for another yr, I will get pleasure from school.”
After Miles’ junior season with the Preventing Irish was ended by TCU within the Candy 16 in March, many anticipated her to then declare for the draft as a result of she was age-eligible, having been at Notre Dame since her arrival in winter 2021. As an alternative, she opted to switch and use her remaining season of eligibility at TCU. She is projected to be the No. 2 decide in ESPN’s most up-to-date 2026 WNBA mock draft.
Miles mentioned she is aware of there’s a lot occurring with negotiations for a brand new CBA, which needs to be signed earlier than the league strikes ahead with the growth draft, the lottery for the 2026 common draft and free company. All that may have an effect on Miles’ future, however she is placing it to the facet some time longer.
“Proper now, it is all nonetheless opinions on what will change,” Miles mentioned of the CBA. “We hear there’s going to be a variety of [player] motion and the league will look completely different subsequent season. So, for now, I simply prioritize what is true in entrance of me. I will begin fascinated with every little thing else in a while.”
There’s lots for Miles to nonetheless accomplish in school. TCU is the preseason favourite within the Massive 12, as chosen by the league’s coaches. Miles was a three-time all-ACC first-team choice at Notre Dame, the place she averaged 14.2 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 101 video games.
She missed the 2022-2023 postseason and your entire 2023-2024 season with a knee damage. Miles mentioned regardless of averaging 15.4 factors, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists final season for the 28-6 Irish, she nonetheless wasn’t 100% assured in her preparation to be within the WNBA. So, she bypassed the 2025 draft.
“[The lottery potential] was loads to depart on the desk,” Miles mentioned, including with a smile, “My mother and father thought I used to be loopy. Everybody thought I used to be loopy. Heck, I nonetheless hear feedback like, ‘It would not make sense. Why would she come again? Why did she go there?’
“However I wasn’t in nice form, nonetheless, mentally. I had a fantastic season final yr, however I nonetheless needed to get extra constant and extra disciplined, and in higher form bodily. I did not suppose I used to be prepared. Being at TCU feels so aligned; I could not move up on the chance, particularly with their fashion of play. Why not keep in school? The professionals will nonetheless be there.”
The Horned Frogs had a breakthrough season in 2024-2025, going 34-4 and successful the Massive 12 regular-season and match titles earlier than making the Elite Eight, all program firsts.
However TCU misplaced 4 senior starters and wanted an infusion of expertise and expertise. Miles, the preseason Massive 12 newcomer of the yr, brings that, and coach Mark Campbell’s program gives a pick-and-roll offensive system that may assist Miles when she goes professional after this season.
“She’s going to be the ball-dominant child, and she or he’s going to get the utilization — all of our actions will run by way of her,” Campbell mentioned. “She needed to make use of this yr to essentially, actually get her thoughts proper and prepare for the professionals. And he or she’s acted like a professional since day one.”