The Rise of Olivia Miles: From High School Star to NCAA Sensation

Olivia Miles is one of the brightest young talents in women’s college basketball. As the dynamic point guard for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Miles has captivated fans and analysts alike with her exceptional court vision, scoring ability, and leadership on the court. Despite facing challenges, including a recent injury, her rise as a basketball prodigy signals a promising future. This article dives into her journey, standout performances, and what lies ahead for her in college basketball and beyond.

Olivia Miles: Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Having been born into a family of basketball players, Miles Olivia grew up in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where she exhibited remarkable basketball skills at an early age. She sharpened her game by playing with boys in her neighborhood and engaging in youth leagues, and she soon became a very good player. By the time it came down to attend Blair Academy, a famous preparatory school, there was no disputing the fact that she was indeed gifted.

At Blair Academy, Miles, in addition to scoring, exhibited an extraordinary passing ability that poets could only dream of. It was purely her game sense, management of which coordinated with the attention of the country, which earned her the distinguished status of being one of the best in her class. Thanks to being named a high school All-American, there were no doubts about Miles becoming a star, and this cleared the way for her to join Notre Dame. Here are some of the accolades that paved her way to college basketball, according to Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s site:

• Maxpreps Third Team All-American Junior year
• Averaged 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists as a junior
• Guided Blair to a Prep A state championship in 2020, its first since 2017
  • Three-time MAPL champion
• Two-time New Jersey State runner-up
• Combined win-loss record of 69-19
• Highlight of her prep career was scoring her 1,000^th career point
• Played AAU with the Philadelphia Belles with Citron
  • Won the Nike Girls EYBL in Indianapolis in June of 2019 with the Belles
• In a January ESPN.com feature about Miles, author John Weinfuss described her as having “Sue Bird-like vision, Steve Nash-like smoothness and a Diana Taurasi-like ability to bully fellow guards with her size.”
• USA U-16 National Team member in 2019
  • She started in all six games and averaged 5.2 points and 7.5 assists to help Team USA to a 6-0 record and a gold medal in Chile.

Olivia Miles at Notre Dame

Olivia Miles has been an impact player at Notre Dame as she became one of the Fighting Irish the moment she stepped on the court. She has the poise to orchestrate the offense and create shots for teammates but turns and takes over when the need arises. This has made her one of the most interesting players to watch in the NCAA women’s basketball.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2021-22)

Became the first men’s or women’s player in NCAA Tournament history to record a triple-double in the NCAA Tournament as a freshman – in her debut, no less. Miles recorded 12 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against UMass. Overall, it marked just the 18th triple-double in the women’s tourney and the 2nd by an Irish player (Skylar Diggins-Smith in 2011). Let us take a look at her additional achievements as a player:

• Collected 9 double-doubles  -> 3 via points/rebounds + 4 via points/assists + 2 triple-doubles. She is ranked 5th in the ACC.
• Her 7.4 assists/game ranked 4th all-time in program history. Top-three spots belong to Lindsay Allen (7.6) and Mary Gavin (7.9 & 8.6). However, she did shatter the freshman ND assist record of 4.5 by Mary Gavin in 1984-85.
• Miles boasts 8 double-digit assist performances on the year. All other players in the ACC had combined for 4.
• Big 13-point, 6-rebound, 5-assist game in win over No. 3 NC State. Miles hit two clutch free throws that ultimately won it in the final 1:20 of the game.
• Career-high 30 points + 6 assists in win over BC on Jan. 30 – was named ACC Player of the Week for the first time. 5th different Irish freshman to score 30 or more points in a game. 4th different Irish player to record a 30-point, 5+ assist performance, joining Diggins-Smith, Loyd, and Ogunbowale.
• Became the 4th Irish player ever to record a 20+ point, 10+ assist double-double. The other 3 were Skylar Diggins-Smith, Marina Mabrey, and Jackie Young. Miles had 21 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and a career-high six steals vs Pitt on Dec. 19.  
• Triple-double at Valpo on Dec. 8 (11p/13r/13a) –  2nd ever Irish freshman to do so, joining Marina Mabrey.  
• Defensive threat: led the team with her 1.8 steals/game, which ranked 7th in the ACC. Miles averaged 2.2 SPG in ACC play, which ranked 2nd in the league.  
• First freshman to start a season opener at point guard since Lindsay Allen in 2013. Before Allen, it was Mollie Peirick who cracked the lineup on Nov. 26, 1994.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2022-23)

• The season was cut short due to a knee injury suffered in the regular-season finale at Louisville
• Led Notre Dame with 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Ranked second with 14.3 points
• Led the ACC in assists/game
• Hit GW shot as time expired to beat Louisville in overtime (2/16/23)
• With 22 points and 10 assists at BC, Miles became the only ND player since at least 1999 to post 20+ points and 10+ assists in multiple games in her Irish career
• Recorded third career triple-double against Merrimack, passing Skylar Diggins and Jackie Young for most career triple-doubles in Notre Dame women’s basketball history
• Posted six games with at least 20 points, which was tied for the team lead with Sonia Citron
• Notched 18 stat sheet stuffer games (5-5-5). No other Irish player had more than two on the season
• All-time program ranks amongst sophomores
  • Assists/game: 6.9 (1st)
  • Total assists: 192 (3rd)
  • Steals/game: 2.1 (T-5th)
  • FTM: 92 (8th)
  • Rebounds/game: 7.3 (T-10th)
  • Minutes/game: 31.6 (9th)

JUNIOR SEASON (2022-23)

• ACC Tournament champion
• Missed junior season rehabbing a knee injury suffered in February 2023

Olivia Miles Stats Overview

Miles’s stats show how much of a good all-around player she is. Scoring, assists, rebounds, steals, you name it, she does it all, and that impact is clear in every area. Below is a sample of her impressive performance over the course of her college years:

Her ability to play different roles on the court has brought not only success to the team but also the establishment of her name as one of the best guards in college basketball.

Olivia Miles’ ACC Player of the Week Recognition

Bearing in mind the above, one of the career-high points for Olivia Miles came when she was named the ACC Player of the Week. Her award was a recognition of the period during which she posted performances that were near a triple-double on average. It signified her growing versatility with age.

For example, in the game against Louisville, Miles was particularly impressive, scoring 22 points, dishing out 11 assists, and pulling down nine rebounds on her way to helping her team win the game. Her talent for stepping up in big games has earned her a reputation as a great team leader and a clutch player, too.

Olivia Miles Injury Updates and Recovery Timeline

In March of the year twenty twenty-three, limping slightly, especially in her left knee, Olivia Miles was forced to end her sophomore campaign prematurely and excluded from the NCAA tournament. This injury was indeed a big blow for both Miles and the Notre Dame program since she was the driving force in their offense as well as the defensive unit.

The injury was not only difficult to bear but also required a full recovery program, which entailed surgery and a lot of physical therapy. They waded through months of agony and painstaking recovery.

As hope was giving way to despair, the feminine updates from Notre Dame’s medical team were closely watched by her fans, who were reminded of her resolve to come back better and stronger.

Olivia Miles’ Anticipated Return to Play

At this point, there exists no official statement regarding a date of return for Miles. However, it is believed that she is recovering satisfactorily. Early signs suggest that she might be ready to come back by late 2024, but the coaching staff and the medical team are careful not to rush her.

Everyone is excited about her coming back since the team needs her on the court for Notre Dame to be successful. With Miles at the helm, the Fighting Irish are again expected to be in the running for the NCAA title.

What Does the WNBA Draft 2025 Hold for Olivia Miles?

What is undeniable is the fact that Olivia Miles’s expertise has already made her a candidate worthy of consideration in the WNBA Draft of 2025. Scouts praise her understanding of the game, her degree of control over its tempo, and her ability to make plays when needed. In the event that she chooses to forego her final year of eligibility and turn professional, Miles is anticipated to be among the top lottery picks and one of the early guards taken off the board.

The girl’s playing style and set of skills are simply made for the current WNBA, which is dominated by big guards who can score, facilitate, and defend effectively. The Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm are two teams that currently need a point guard who can help the team right away and most probably will want to pick up Miles.

Aside from her athletics, Miles’s confidence and ability to lead make her the type of player whom a franchise would build around. If she keeps making this kind of progress in her recovery, she will have a great future in professional sports.

Conclusion

In her infant career, Olivia Miles has already accomplished a lot, but the narrative is still incomplete. From being a child batter to her breakout performances in Notre Dame, Miles has been one of the brightest prospects in women’s basketball. However, despite the injury she suffered, one can only admire her commitment to rehabilitation and ambition of coming back even stronger.

With fans patiently waiting for her return to action as well as her eventual transition into professional basketball, one thing is obvious: Olivia Miles is not just another player who is on the rise – she is a player primed to do remarkable things in the sport itself. Be it taking Notre Dame to the championship or shaking things up in the WNBA, Miles’s journey is, however, one that should be followed closely.