“You know the end is near, so you’re trying to cherish it and drag it out as long as possible because you don’t want it to end,” Paige Bueckers said. That all but confirmed what many expected—she’s heading to the majors. But there’s a twist. It was widely believed that Notre Dame star Olivia Miles would be right there with her, locking in as the number 1 and number 2 picks in the upcoming draft. Turns out that won’t be happening!

Olivia Miles sent shockwaves through the basketball world with her decision. Instead of declaring for the WNBA draft or returning to Notre Dame, she’s entering the transfer portal. Why would she make this move? Rachel Annamarie DeMita breaks it all down on her YouTube channel!

She says, “We’ve talked about like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s salary. They’re making like $70,000 a year for their first three seasons in the WNBA. Now with that, the new CBA goes into place not this season but the next. And so, if Olivia is thinking in that regard, she’s like hey, I can stay in college one more year I can make some money in college, and then in 2026 if I enter the WNBA, then I will have a better chance at getting a higher salary with whatever team that I go to.”

Miles, who missed last season with an ACL injury, came back this year and showed everyone what she’s truly capable of. She finished the season averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, an ACC-leading 5.4 assists, and a nation-leading three triple-doubles. So why would a projected No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft choose not to enter? Simple—salary.

The top four picks in the WNBA are guaranteed a base salary of $76,536 in their first year, with slight increases over the next two years. Picks 5-8 earn $73,439, while those drafted 9-12 make $70,344. Second-round picks? They start at $67,249. With a new CBA rumored to take effect in 2026, Miles could enter the league under much better financial terms. In the meantime, by entering the portal, she can secure a similar amount through college basketball while boosting her NIL value. An extremely smart move! Unlike Paige, who seems all set to enter the draft and lock in that $76,536 salary. Could she have waited another year? Maybe. But for WNBA fans, this is nothing but good news! They’ve been patiently waiting to see Bueckers’ hoop at the next level, and the wait is almost over.

While the college basketball scene rejoices with the news of Miles staying put, the Notre Dame fans cry. Another fighting Irish has decided to follow Miles into the portal. Let’s take a look into it.

Another Notre Dame star joins Miles in the portal as journalist reveals another reason for Miles to leave

It’s been a brutal few weeks for Notre Dame fans. Another Sweet 16 exit. Losing star guard Olivia Miles. “I think at the end of the season, we saw that it (the chemistry between Hidalgo and Miles) wasn’t quite the same. Something was amiss with their on-court chemistry. So maybe that went into Miles’ decision to say. If I can go and be the singular point guard in another program, maybe that’s even better for me for my continued development.” said ESPN’s Shams Charania, which suggests that money might not have been the sole reason for Miles to leave Notre Dame.

But the pain didn’t stop there for the Fighting Irish fans. Emma Risch is expected to follow Olivia Miles into the transfer portal. The sophomore guard last saw action on January 23, playing just three minutes in an 89-63 win over Boston College. Before that? Five and six minutes in back-to-back wins against SMU. Now, she’s looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

With each passing day, Olivia Miles’ decision to enter the transfer portal makes more sense. The WNBA will be waiting for her down the road, but for now, all eyes are on Paige Bueckers. PaigeMania is about to take over Dallas! Stay tuned for more updates!