It’s been quite a journey for Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Olivia Miles.
Not long ago, Miles was seen as a can’t-miss WNBA Draft prospect: an elite playmaker and prolific stat sheet stuffer who, in her first two collegiate seasons at Notre Dame, already had fans and scouts alike thinking about just how early she’d be drafted when she was eligible to turn pro. A draft lottery (top-4 pick) selection, regardless of which WNBA team would be making the pick, seemed inevitable.
Miles suffered an ACL injury near the end of her sophomore season, however, and has been working her way back ever since. She missed the entirety of the 2023-24 NCAAW season while rehabbing, and now returns to a Notre Dame program that features another extremely talented lead guard in Hannah Hidalgo.
Simply put, Miles will not only be expected to prove to WNBA coaches and executives that she’s back to full strength, but also that she can continue to excel playing next to Hidalgo. There’s no question that the two form one of the most gifted backcourts in the country—in theory—but this will be the first season the previously ball-dominant guards will be asked to work together.
Irish head coach Niele Ivey doesn’t anticipate that being an issue, calling the pair “interchangeable,” and…
