Notre Dame’s saga of the curse of Sweet 16 continues! The program’s hopes of winning their first championship since 2018 got crushed this week after their loss to TCU. For the fourth year in a row, Notre Dame’s dance ended in Sweet 16. Naturally, this had consequences. The core that Niele Ivey worked so hard to build is starting to break apart. Who’s the first to leave? None other than star guard Olivia Miles.
For a long period of time, it was assumed that Olivia Miles would be going pro after the end of this season. Most mock drafts had her going second overall, right behind Paige Bueckers. But she’s thrown a curveball instead! Not only is she staying in college basketball, but she’s also entering the transfer portal!
So why did Olivia Miles decide to leave Notre Dame? Rumors are swirling on social media, and fans think there’s tension brewing between Miles and Hannah Hidalgo. But how did they get there? A fan on X shared a TikTok, which Miles reposted, with the caption, “Treating people right is better than posting Bible verses you don’t even practice. Can’t treat people bad then hide behind religion.”
OLIVIA MILES REPOSTING THIS ??? pic.twitter.com/0mCUFRRrJI
— ella (@notstormenough) April 1, 2025
Now everyone knows how religious Hidalgo is. She has often gone on record saying how much the Lord means to her. “Christ is my everything,” she said on the Sports Spectrum podcast. “I mean, He’s my Lord and Savior. He’s the reason that I fight, the reason that I do everything, the reason that I’m able to do what I do. He’s just everything in my life, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything without Him.”
While there’s no solid proof of a feud between Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo, there’s also nothing to rule it out. The reposted TikTok might not have been a shot at the sophomore, but the cracks in the Fighting Irish are becoming impossible to ignore.
According to Talia Goodman of On3 Sports, Notre Dame’s Emma Risch has entered the transfer portal. The sophomore guard, who averaged close to 6 points this season, is exploring her options for the first time in her career. It’s uncertain how many more Fighting Irish players will follow suit. But the big question remains—where does Olivia Miles go from here?
What’s next for Olivia Miles?
Olivia Miles could very well be entering the portal to test her NIL value. Or maybe she just wants to focus on recovering from the ACL injury she suffered back in 2023. It could be any of these reasons rather than the rumored feud with Hannah Hidalgo that’s doing rounds on X. The real reason isn’t known yet. But where could she possibly end up?
The best destination for Olivia Miles would be the UConn Huskies. With star point guard Paige Bueckers headed to the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Huskies could bring in Miles. A big three of Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd, and Olivia Miles could be a force to be reckoned with next season!
Another possible destination for Olivia Miles could be the USC Trojans. If Miles teams up with JuJu Watkins at USC, they’d easily be the most dynamic guard duo in women’s college hoops. With Watkins coming back from her ACL injury, Miles could take the reins early, driving the offense and setting the tone!
Miles could very well be headed to a different program. It’s still unclear where the star guard will go, but one thing’s for sure—Niele Ivey will have a big job ahead of her to clean up Notre Dame’s mess!
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