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The 2025 WNBA Draft is simply two weeks away, and shocking information broke on Monday.
ESPN’s Shams Charania introduced Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles’s unprecedented determination to forgo the draft. With the discharge, Miles will enter the NCAA’s switch portal.
Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles – the projected No. 2 choose within the WNBA draft this month – will forgo the draft and enter NCAA’s switch portal, sources inform ESPN. The 22-year-old prime prospect makes unprecedented determination to make use of her one yr remaining of faculty as a substitute of the draft. pic.twitter.com/NaODcCzc38
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2025
What’s Subsequent For Olivia Miles And Notre Dame Following Candy 16 Exit?
Miles performed for the Notre Dame Combating Irish for 4 seasons throughout her collegiate profession. Acknowledged for her distinctive passing and scoring talents, Miles was projected as a prime lottery choose on this yr’s draft. In her senior season, she averaged 15.4 factors, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, whereas capturing 48.3 p.c from the sector.
The Combating Irish had a formidable begin to the season, attaining a rating of No. 1 within the Related Press polls for the primary time since 2019. Nonetheless, Notre Dame’s journey got here to an early finish after they have been eradicated by the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils within the second spherical of the ACC Event.
Moreover, the group was ranked the No. 3 seed firstly of the NCAA Event. The Combating Irish have been in the end defeated by the TCU Horned Frogs within the Candy 16. With the loss marked a disappointing conclusion to their season.
In line with ESPN, Miles acknowledged taking part in within the upcoming WNBA season straight away feels daunting. Miles additionally talked about she may gain advantage from the summer season to give attention to relaxation and restoration.
“[Potentially being] a lottery choose is loads to surrender. I’ve labored onerous for that,” Miles mentioned Saturday. “I really imagine I’ve put myself in nice place for groups to have a look at me and see my worth at that degree. I’ve to belief myself with no matter determination I make; both determination could be good for me. I must make a number of calls and discuss to some folks. However I will be ready and assured within the determination.”
What Path Might The Seattle Storm Take After Mile’s WNBA Draft Choice?
The Seattle Storm holds the No. 2 general choose on this yr’s WNBA Draft after buying it via a three-team commerce that despatched Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces and Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Since Loyd’s departure, the group has aimed to fill the void. Even after drafting Nika Mühl final yr, the Storm wants a guard to enrich Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, each of whom joined the group through 2024 free company. With these additions, the Storm are set to make a championship run.
Moreover, the group has undergone main modifications since Sue Fowl’s retirement and Breanna Stewart’s departure for the New York Liberty. Since her exit, Stewart not too long ago led the Liberty to their first WNBA Championship in franchise historical past.
Sonia Citron, a teammate of Miles at Notre Dame, is likely one of the prime capturing guards within the upcoming WNBA Draft class. They paired nicely collectively alongside sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo.
USC senior ahead Kiki Iriafen, LSU Tigers ahead Aneesah Morrow, and Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore may very well be attainable choices for the Storm to entertain with the second general choose.
How The Olivia Miles Choice Might Impression The 2026 WNBA Draft?
The 2026 WNBA Draft class will characteristic Azzi Fudd, who introduced her return to play for the UConn Huskies. Different prime prospects embody UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, simply to call a number of.
There was a pattern of gamers throughout the NCAA opting to make use of the additional yr of eligibility attributable to both the COVID-19 Pandemic or utilizing the redshirt yr attributable to harm. Paige Bueckers, the projected No. 1 general choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft, determined to make use of the additional yr of eligibility as a substitute of declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft attributable to lacking the 2022-23 season attributable to a torn ACL harm.
With NIL rapidly rising, the panorama of ladies’s basketball is shifting proper in entrance of our eyes.
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