Paige Bueckers made quite the noise as she entered the college scene to become the first freshman woman to earn Associated Press Player of the Year honors. Despite a few hiccups, she has been a force to reckon with since. “Talent-wise, UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers should be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft,” ESPN wrote of the mock draft. But the growing talent pool, has the UConn star overshadowed.

It’s Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles who’s making headlines for all the right reasons. Today, No. 3 Notre Dame took to the court to battle Virginia, and thanks to star guard Olivia Miles, the Fighting Irish secured a dominant 95-54 victory. But that wasn’t the only reason to celebrate.

With her latest masterpiece of 11 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds, the junior guard notched her third triple-double of the season and the sixth of her career. The NCAA’s active career leader in assists, averaging 6.8 per game, was as dominant as ever. If you’re thinking this is just another day for Miles, think again—she became the first collegiate women’s basketball player to record back-to-back triple-doubles this season.

She joins Caitlin Clark in the feat, who had posted consecutive triple-doubles back in January this year. While Sunday’s game highlighted Miles’ brilliance, the streak truly began during Notre Dame’s 97-54 victory over Loyola Maryland. In that game, she achieved a historic milestone by recording the fifth triple-double of her career with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

This feat placed her atop the all-time leader chart for triple-doubles in the program’s basketball history. Not just that, it marked her as the first player—man or woman—in the program’s 128-year existence to achieve such a record. It only seems to make the case for a few who have voiced Miles to be a worthy contender for the no.1 pick.

Bueckers, on the other hand, who is all but confirmed to be the Dallas Wings’ first pick next spring as every other mock draft projects, has fallen short in the regard. She has come close to a double-double twice, but more evades her. Nonetheless, overtaking the No. 1 draft pick spot won’t be as easy as it may seem.

Paige Bueckers is still on the track

Bueckers’ 56.3% shooting accuracy from the field and a 41.7% mark from beyond the arc make her an offensive powerhouse. And let’s not overlook her jaw-dropping 7.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, currently the best in the nation.

As of now, the 2021 Wooden Award winner is averaging 20.8 points with 4.5 rebounds to Olivia Miles’ 17.2 points and 6.5 rebounds. She also led women’s basketball starting 5 for consecutive weeks early this month and her 4 25+ and 8 20+ point performances aren’t pushing her down the list soon.

All in all, the stage is set for women’s basketball, and it has never been more competitive.

As the season progresses, the battle between Bueckers and Miles will likely intensify. Both players are elite talents with WNBA-ready skills, but their contrasting styles—Bueckers’ precision versus Miles’ dynamism—offer a fascinating debate.

Could this be the year a player dethrones the presumed No. 1 pick? With Olivia Miles in the mix, nothing is certain. One thing’s for sure: basketball fans are in for a thrilling ride.