Why did Olivia Miles leave Notre Dame? How skipping WNBA draft, transfer decision led star to TCU

Despite being close to the top of the 2025 WNBA draft board, Olivia Miles decided it would be best to play one more year of college ball. After a lot of chatter on social media, along with transferring from Notre Dame to TCU, her decision looks like it has paid off.

Miles led the Horned Frogs to their first Elite Eight in women's program history and is still standing near the peak of prospective WNBA talent. Her college career was strong already, but she has taken it to a new level in Texas. Prior to her devastating ACL injury with the Fighting Irish, the 5-foot-10 point guard became the first men's or women's freshman to post a triple-double in the NCAA tournament in 2022. 

Let's take a look at Miles' career and why she decided to leave Notre Dame for TCU.

WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

Why did Olivia Miles leave Notre Dame?

Miles transferred out of Notre Dame because she wanted to thrive in a system that gave her the best chance and offensive play style to showcase her skill set. Following the 2025 season, the guard declared that she was leaving the Fighting Irish to join the Horned Frogs.

"I’ll have great teammates and a great coach around me. I’ll have a lot of fun, so I’m just very excited for that," she said to The Associated Press. "Ultimately, I really just wanted to go somewhere where I’d be able to showcase my abilities the best that I can.”

Olivia Miles ACL injury

On Feb. 23, 2023, during the last regular-season game for Notre Dame, Miles tore her ACL during a game against the Louisville Cardinals. While driving to the basket, Miles' right knee buckled, later revealed as a torn ACL. The injury was devastating for the point guard and caused her to miss the remainder of the 2022-2023 campaign, as well as the entirety of the 2023-2024 season during her tenure at Notre Dame.

That season as a sophomore, she averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.1 steals. She was also a second-team AP All-American and third-team USBWA All-American.

MORE: Women's March Madness schedule, scores, and channels

Why did Olivia Miles skip the 2025 WNBA Draft?

While Miles was viewed as a high lottery pick prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft, the guard passed up on the draft to use her fifth year of college eligibility. She later entered the NCAA transfer portal and joined TCU, who are now a game away from their first Final Four appearance in program history.

She also wanted to ensure she was fully ready to join the WNBA, and she felt another collegiate year was needed. “I think it was a mixture of me listening to my body and what I needed and also just another year to develop, you know be in a system where it’ll favor me and I’ll have great teammates and a great coach around me,” Miles said to The Associated Press. ”I’ll have a lot of fun so I’m just very excited for that.”

Miles will still stand atop the prospective draftboard once her collegiate career is over, with ESPN projecting her to be drafted at the No. 3 spot by the Seattle Storm.

Why did Olivia Miles transfer to TCU?

Miles transferred out of Notre Dame because she believed TCU would help her flourish in a system more applicable to her play. She transferred from Notre Dame following the 2024-2025 season to join TCU.

TCU's head coach, Mark Campbell, was well on board with Miles joining the Horned Frogs' squad. "There is not a better point guard in the country than Olivia," Campbell said.

No. 3 TCU will be looking to upset the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks on Monday night in the Elite Eight.