TCU's Miles glad to delay going pro amid CBA talks

KANSAS CITY -- TCU defender Olivia Miles said she knows galore were amazed she bypassed being a apt lottery prime successful the WNBA draught earlier this twelvemonth to stay successful college.

But with the WNBA's ongoing corporate bargaining negotiations, Miles, who transferred from Notre Dame for her last season, said she is contented to observe that statement from afar.

"The WNBA is figuring retired their ain worldly [with the CBA] arsenic we're watching," Miles, 22, told ESPN connected Tuesday astatine Big 12 women's hoops media day. "So, fto them fig it out, and for 1 much year, I'll bask college."

After Miles' inferior play with the Fighting Irish was ended by TCU successful the Sweet 16 successful March, galore expected her to past state for the draught due to the fact that she was age-eligible, having been astatine Notre Dame since her accomplishment successful wintertime 2021. Instead, she opted to transportation and usage her remaining play of eligibility astatine TCU. She is projected to beryllium the No. 2 prime successful ESPN's astir caller 2026 WNBA mock draft.

Miles said she knows determination is simply a batch happening with negotiations for a caller CBA, which has to beryllium signed earlier the league moves guardant with the enlargement draft, the lottery for the 2026 regular draught and escaped agency. All that volition person an interaction connected Miles' future, but she is putting it to the broadside a portion longer.

"Right now, it's each inactive opinions connected what is going to change," Miles said of the CBA. "We perceive determination is going to beryllium a batch of [player] question and the league volition look antithetic adjacent season. So, for now, I conscionable prioritize what is close successful beforehand of me. I'll commencement reasoning astir everything other aboriginal on."

There is plentifulness for Miles to inactive execute successful college. TCU is the preseason favourite successful the Big 12, arsenic chosen by the league's coaches. Miles was a three-time all-ACC first-team enactment astatine Notre Dame, wherever she averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists successful 101 games.

She missed the 2022-2023 postseason and the full 2023-2024 play with a genu injury. Miles said contempt averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists past play for the 28-6 Irish, she inactive wasn't 100% assured successful her mentation to beryllium successful the WNBA. So, she bypassed the 2025 draft.

"[The lottery potential] was a batch to permission connected the table," Miles said, adding with a smile, "My parents thought I was crazy. Everyone thought I was crazy. Heck, I inactive perceive comments like, 'It doesn't marque sense. Why would she travel back? Why did she spell there?'

"But I wasn't successful large shape, still, mentally. I had a large play past year, but I inactive wanted to get much accordant and much disciplined, and successful amended signifier physically. I didn't deliberation I was ready. Being astatine TCU feels truthful aligned; I couldn't walk up connected the opportunity, particularly with their benignant of play. Why not enactment successful college? The pros volition inactive beryllium there."

The Horned Frogs had a breakthrough play successful 2024-2025, going 34-4 and winning the Big 12 regular-season and tourney titles earlier making the Elite Eight, each programme firsts.

But TCU mislaid 4 elder starters and needed an infusion of acquisition and talent. Miles, the preseason Big 12 newcomer of the year, brings that, and manager Mark Campbell's programme offers a pick-and-roll violative strategy that volition assistance Miles erstwhile she goes pro aft this season.

"She's going to beryllium the ball-dominant kid, and she's going to get the usage -- each of our actions volition tally done her,'' Campbell said. "She wanted to usage this twelvemonth to really, truly get her caput close and get acceptable for the pros. And she's acted similar a pro since time one."