Olivia Miles Eyes a National Title in Her Fifth and Final College Campaign at TCU

Olivia Miles, whose Notre Dame team lost to TCU in last March’s Sweet 16, has arrived in Fort Worth with a résumé few in college basketball can match — and the resilience of a star who missed the entire 2023-24 season recovering from a torn ACL.

The three-time All-ACC first-team honoree announced her transfer to TCU live on the Emmy-winning Inside the NBA, flanked by college and WNBA great Candace Parker and Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal, who presented her with a white TCU jersey stitched with the number 5.

“Coach Mark Campbell is one of the greatest in the game,” Miles said of her decision to attend graduate school at TCU. “He has a very direct plan for me and for our team.”

Miles is the second all-conference guard signed by Campbell in as many offseasons, following the 2024 arrival of Hailey Van Lith, who became Big 12 Player of the Year and the No. 11 pick in the spring’s WNBA Draft.

Miles may be even more highly sought should she enter the WNBA in 2026; ESPN projects the 22-year-old as the No. 2 pick after a senior season at Notre Dame in which she averaged a career-high 15.4 points and hit better than 40 percent from the three-point line.

Fresh off a gold medal from July’s FIBA AmeriCup final win over Brazil, Miles adds electricity to a Frogs backcourt that also features Donovyn Hunter and Taylor Bigby, the lone returning starters from a roster that last season carried TCU women’s basketball to its first Elite Eight.

What excites you most about joining TCU’s program?

I’d say the growing fan base. Coach Mark Campbell has come in and really rejuvenated the energy: the stadium, this team, the program, the school. I’m excited to meet the fans and to play with such amazing girls. We love each other. We’re excited to have fun this year.

You have a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in nonprofit administration from Notre Dame. What made you pursue that combination? 

I love studying politics and human behavior. That’s definitely something I was drawn to. 

And the master’s program — a dream of mine is to start my own nonprofit. So I wanted to be more prepared for that in the future and understand the basics.

What would be the focus of your nonprofit? 

It’d definitely be a foundation helping kids in sports. 

I’ve always been passionate about providing kids gear, helping them get funded to go on trips. I’ve had a lot of AAU teammates who couldn’t make tournaments because they couldn’t afford travel, hotels, whatever it may be. So I want to help kids with that kind of stuff. 

What academic achievement from Notre Dame are you most proud of? 

I won the Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year Award in the ACC. That was a pretty cool achievement. It was definitely a testament to my academic hard work.  

How would you say being a student-athlete has shaped your academic discipline?  

You have to be committed. You have to put in extra time, show up on time and respect your peers. Whether that’s in group work, in the classroom, I know how to work in teams.  

I know how to communicate effectively because of basketball. I get my work in on time because I know I have to show up on time. The habits you build on the court definitely translate off the court. 

What’s your number one piece of advice for an incoming first-year student-athlete? 

Enjoy the ride. It goes really fast. I’m in my fifth year already, and I can’t believe it. Don’t be afraid to open up, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

It’s really hard with practice, games and schoolwork. So lean on each other and on your good friends. 

What would you say makes this team’s chemistry unique?  

We don’t care who throws the ball in the hoop. It’s about who gets the best shot and when. 

We’re willing to defend, to run and push in transition, to spread the floor. It’s going to be a lot of fun. 

How would you describe your playing style?

Pretty creative. I play the game with a free-flowing spirit and joy, and I never take anything too seriously. I love trying new things, stuff other people don’t usually even think of. That’s what makes it fun for me.

What are your individual goals for this year? And what are the team’s goals?

My individual goal is to be a pro every day, to be as consistent as I can. That will translate to my teammates and rub off onto everyone else. To show up every day, be the best teammate and leader I can — that leads to team success.

Obviously we’re going for a championship; everyone is. But it’s the little details in between that separate you. So I think our team goals are to find those differentiators that set us apart.

Has being in the WNBA been a dream of yours since you were a little kid?

No, I wouldn’t say it was a dream early on. I came from a family that didn’t really know basketball. 

My dad was an immigrant from Jamaica, he played soccer. So I grew up playing soccer. We didn’t know what the WNBA was. We didn’t know who Maya Moore or Lisa Leslie were until I got much older. 

Was there a key turning point when you pivoted from soccer to basketball? 

I played soccer all up until senior year of high school. I knew in college it would have to be one or the other. 

If I could play soccer right now, I would. It was just the fact that there’s more opportunity for me in basketball. I’m a lot better at it, I’ve dedicated more time to it and it’s indoors, which is nice. 

Have you ever thought about how that soccer skill set made you a better basketball player, at least footwork-wise? 

Absolutely. Even my passing. 

Soccer is all about windows and gaps and leading people to spaces. I see basketball the same way. And the footwork definitely translates into being able to move around the court at high speeds and see the floor at a high level. 

How do you define leadership on the court?

I think I’m still trying to figure it out myself. Leadership is the willingness to be vulnerable and to have people follow you. It’s scary. You’re always in the spotlight, always taking the criticism. You’re expected to drag your team out of a 10-point deficit, to turn the tide.

It’s a lot of responsibility. But in my opinion, it’s about being vulnerable and letting people see that vulnerability from you so they feel empowered themselves.

What was it like representing Team USA again and coming home with a second International Basketball Federation gold medal? 

It was amazing. 

It’s always a blessing being able to represent your country. It’s fun being around elite players and competing against them.  

We were just down in playing against Brazil with Kamilla Cardoso and Damiris Dantas, who are both WNBA players. It was weird, we had 19-year-olds trying to guard them. But it was a good experience. And we won the gold. 

Was there a moment that stood out from that experience? 

Winning the gold, I think it meant a lot more.  

It meant a lot more just because when I played U16 six years ago, we were killing teams by, like, 100. The competition wasn’t as good. It wasn’t as fun. But this time, we felt the grind. We had to get over adversity and beat a really good team. That made it so much more meaningful. 

“Leadership is the willingness to be vulnerable and to have people follow you.”
Olivia Miles

How have you grown as a person since starting college?  

I’ve definitely gotten a lot more selfish with my time. I think I often didn’t use it as well, whether that’s recovery, sleep or eating right.  

Now — and this is why I’m doing the liberal arts program, for the flexibility — I can be more intentional with my time. If I want to sit on the couch and rest, I can. Or I can get an extra workout in. I can use my time in ways that best serve me. 

What’s something that fans might not know or expect about you?  

I’m a major cat person.  

I have one cat, though. I don’t have, like, 86 cats. I’m not a cat lady, but I am a major cat person. I love cats.  

How did you get your cat down here from South Bend?  

I flew him. First class. Yeah, he’s spoiled.  

Has there ever been a moment throughout your college career where you doubted yourself, and how did you overcome it? 

Absolutely. This is very vulnerable of me: I doubt myself every day. I doubt if I can get on the line and do a sprint every day. There are little doubts in your mind that you always have as a player. I’ve gotten really good at redirecting those thoughts into something positive.

You’re always going to question yourself. That’s the point of the challenge. As I’ve grown, I’ve learned how to lift myself up, especially through adversity and with my knee injury. That’s helped a lot.

Have you had a chance to explore Fort Worth? Any favorite spots so far? 

 I live downtown, so I’ve seen a lot of cool restaurants and spots.   

I’ve been to Sundance Square. I haven’t been to the Stockyards yet. I’ve been to Clearfork. There are some pretty cool spots down here. The river’s nice, too. 

How do you balance NIL opportunities with staying focused on basketball and school? 

Luckily my agent handles most of it, but it does get overwhelming. 

Last weekend I was in Miami for an Unrivaled NIL deal. That stuff gets tiring. You have to travel in the middle of workouts, then you’re on a plane, and it kills your joints. It’s a lot. 

You have to manage your partnerships. But ultimately, you’re grateful for the opportunities. 

What do you envision your life looking like five years from now? 

Hopefully in the league, with enough money saved to take care of myself and my family. 

I don’t want to play forever. I want to get a few good years in and live a good life. Maybe start my nonprofit and help people around the world — and then just chill. 

Can you walk me through your pregame routine from the time you arrive at the arena? 

I usually get there for my shooter, about five to six hours before the game, and get shots up. Then we watch film and eat a pregame meal. 

I’ll head back home — that’s my time to center myself, do my mind work, my hair, get ready, listen to music. Then I head back to the gym, have a snack, get taped up. About two hours before the game, I’ll stretch, do more mental prep, get on the court, do team warmups and then it’s game time. 

It’s really a selfish day for me, preparing my mind for such a taxing, emotional game and being able to deliver a win for our team. 

Who on the team is the funniest and why? 

Taliyah Parker, because her spirit is just so childlike in the best way possible. That’s not any offense there, she’s just pure. She makes everyone laugh, whether it’s her jokes or facial expressions. Definitely T. 

Who’s someone, athlete or otherwise, you’d love to meet? And why?  

Stephen Curry. I think that’s self-explanatory. He’s just a GOAT in our game. I was going to say Maya Moore, but I’ve met her. Probably Sue Bird, but I’ve talked to her, too. So definitely Steph. 

What advice would you give to your younger self before you ever picked up a basketball?  

I would tell her: Don’t let anyone steal your joy.

You’re the only one who can take your joy away. Don’t give your power to other people. Be confident in who you are and enjoy the ride.

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Editor’s Note: The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.

— As told to Corey Zapata-Smith