Olivia Miles’ TCU transfer proved to be a genius move in more ways than one after she opted to remain in college for one more season after being billed as a top pick in 2025
Olivia Miles’ decision to remain in college paid dividends after the WNBA’s new CBA was ratified(Image: Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Olivia Miles proved her detractors wrong after she declined to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Miles, the TCU star, shocked fans by transferring out of Notre Dame, and instead of declaring for the draft, she opted to stay one more year in college. At the time, many questioned why the 23-year-old would remain in college, despite being billed as one of the top picks that year.
However, with the WNBA and its players agreeing on a new CBA, her gamble to stay one more year and play for the Horned Frogs has paid dividends in more ways than one.
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Speaking on the WNBA’s new CBA and what it means for her as she looks ahead to the 2026 draft, she exclaimed, “It means money, thankfully,” prompting scattered laughter from the media. Miles also noted that she hopes players will be more willing to stay in the United States with the ratification of the new CBA.
“And it’s just a win for women,” the TCU star continued, believing it is the first step for women to get paid what they should. “And it’s a precedent set. And moving forward, it’ll only get better. It’ll only grow. And it means that women’s basketball, women’s sports in general, is headed in the right place.”
It is clear that by waiting an extra year, Miles will receive a significantly higher payday when she enters the league. Depending on where she’s drafted, the star could earn anywhere from $ 500,000 (No. 1 pick) to $ 309,622 (No. 8), according to Yahoo! Sports
Olivia Miles is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft(Image: Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
If Miles drops to No. 9 to 15 in the first round, she is set to earn $289,133. That is significantly more than draft picks of the past, like Caitlin Clark, made in their first year.
When Clark was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 draft, she earned less than $80,000 despite being the top pick. That said, the new CBA will also impact Clark and other players’ contracts.
The Fever star is set to earn over $500,000 as a result of the new CBA, and because she was named to an All-WNBA team, she is eligible to receive the maximum in the fourth year of her rookie contract in 2027. Overall, the average salary is expected to be $583,000 this season.
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Aside from the monetary aspects, Miles claimed that staying one more year in college allowed her to fully develop as a person, player, and leader.
“To leave what I left on the table seemed stupid and seemed like ‘What is she doing?'” the 23-year-old said. “But I knew deep in my heart that I needed one more year to be ready physically, mentally, whatever that may have been. And this year has paid off for me in ways that I can’t even describe in that regard.
And as I said yesterday, I found my joy back, my love for the game, and I found a sisterhood and family that I’ll have forever. And so I’ve grown in my leadership. I’ve grown in my game.
“Obviously, I’m having a career year across the board, but also I’ve grown in just trusting myself and knowing that I could play at a high level. And I didn’t quite think I was there last year, ready enough to be a pro at that moment, but now I feel ready.”