Why Olivia Miles forgoing WNBA draft for transfer portal doesn’t affect Seattle Storm’s #2 overall pick
By Christan Braswell, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - Olivia Miles is widely projected as the No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft.
That is no longer the case.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday night that Miles will forgo the draft and enter the NCAA transfer portal. He noted that Miles made an "unprecedented decision" to use her one remaining year of eligibility instead of the draft.
Miles’ decision is surprising for several reasons. Recently, an anonymous WNBA general manager called Miles the “second safest pick after Paige [Bueckers]” in an article from The Athletic.
After missing last season due to a torn ACL, Miles was superb for Notre Dame, averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.6 rebounds. She shot 40.6 percent from beyond the arc on 5.6 attempts, an area of her game that improved drastically. Despite an underwhelming end to the season, most notably a 10-point, 3-for-10 showing in the Fighting Irish’s loss to TCU in the Sweet 16, her draft position was unaffected.
Of the reasons to skip the draft, Miles could’ve preferred to stay in school where there’s more time to develop her game and wait for the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which is currently being negotiated between the WNBA Players Association. The WNBPA elected to opt out of its current CBA, which runs out on October 31st, 2025. One of the key issues entering negotiations is higher player salaries, which also includes rookie-scale deals.
Concerning the #2 overall pick and the Seattle Storm, it’s unclear if the team would’ve selected Miles, even if she had declared for the draft. Olivia had been penciled in to that spot for Seattle by fans and some media members, by the Storm never made it clear that they were after the Notre Dame player. After talented forward Jordan Horston suffered a torn ACL while playing in Athletes Unlimited, Seattle’s frontcourt depth took a hit that has yet to be addressed by the team in free agency or via trade.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, the Storm has its eye on 19-year-old French center Domonique Malonga.
At a towering 6-foot-6, Malonga has the tool box to be the face of what the modern WNBA post player looks like. She has the fluidity of a guard with the skillset and size of a do-it-all post. Her ability to read coverages on defense and inflict her will at a moment’s notice anywhere on the court. On offense, playing drop coverage on Malonga will prove to be a mistake because of her release point, boasting a Victor Wenbanyama-like wingspan. Her work in the pick-and-roll is what every lead guard dreams of in a running mate.
Since acquiring guard Lexie Brown via trade and signing Erica Wheeler and Zia Cooke to training camp deals, it appeared as if Seattle was forgoing having to attempt to replace the production of former franchise star Jewell Loyd. It’s important to note that in free agency in 2026, guards like Jackie Young and Kahleah Copper will hit the open market in one of the most unprecedented signing periods in league history.
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