“People were just telling me that I had the ability,” Olivia Miles said. Turns out, they were right. The New Jersey native has been turning heads since fifth grade. And she’s been proving that she indeed has the talent ever since. In the 2022-23 season, the Notre Dame senior guard dropped the first triple-double of the 2024 women’s college basketball season.
The pros can’t help but notice her. “My favorite player to watch in college basketball is Olivia Miles,” Candace Parker said. “I think she is the one player that’s gonna really surprise a lot of people at the next level because her game is just WNBA ready.”
The 22-year-old guard always uses set skills to establish the rhythm for her team. After recovering from her injury, she made a comeback this season with strong numbers on the court since November last year. Notably, Miles’ game and mindset are shaped by her Jamaican roots and her Jersey upbringing — a combo that’s made her one of the most exciting players to watch.
What is Olivia Miles’ ethnicity?
When it comes to her ethnicity, Olivia Miles has a diverse background, which in turn shaped her competitive edge. Her father, Yakubu was a Jamaican immigrant while her mother, Maria, an Italian. Yakubu, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica when he was just 12 years old. “My dad came here as a Jamaican immigrant when he was 12 and taught me so many things, including how to play soccer from the jump, really. Like as soon as I learned to walk,” Miles said.
That early exposure to sports built the foundation for her basketball success — and her drive to succeed comes from seeing her parents’ sacrifices. “My parents sacrificed a lot to put me in the right places to be successful,” she added.
What is Olivia Miles’ nationality? Where was she born?
Olivia Miles is as Jersey as it gets. She was born on January 29, 2003, in Summit, New Jersey, and grew up in Phillipsburg. Her athletic talent started shining from her early childhood. And basketball has been an integral part of her life from the start. She played at Blair Academy in Blairstown, where she became a star fast. As a junior, she averaged 13.6 PTS, 8.1 REB, and 7.6 AST which led her team to a Prep A state title.
With her outstanding on court skills, people starting keeping an eye on her. ESPNW ranked her the No. 8 player in the Class of 2020 and the No. 2 point guard. She also balled out with the Philadelphia Belles, winning a Nike Elite Youth Basketball League title in 2019.
Starting from early January 2021, Miles enrolled at Notre Dame and is now committed to the program. And it paid off quick since then. In her first NCAA tournament game, she made history, becoming the first freshman (male or female) to post a triple-double. Along with that, she added 12 PTS, 11 REB, and 11 AST against UMass.
Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles (5) drives the ball into the paint during a NCAA women’s basketball game against James Madison at Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in South Bend.
Talk about making an entrance, and girl, here she is. She played AAU ball with the Philadelphia Belles and helped them win the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League title in June 2019. ESPN rated her a five-star recruit, and she earned a spot on the Jordan Brand Classic roster.
When it came to college, Miles had big choices — Stanford, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. She picked the Fighting Irish, and her choice couldn’t have been more right. By the end of high school, she’d built a smooth scoring game and elite playmaking skills.
Miles also balled out internationally. She played for the 2019 USA U16 National Team as a starter in all the six games. She averaged 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists while helping the team go 6-0 and win gold in Chile.
What religion does Olivia Miles follow?
Olivia Miles once said, “Faith is very important – keeps you grounded, helps you to realize everything’s happening for a bigger purpose,” She further added, “God’s never going to put you in a position to be hurt, but to only prosper and succeed. So although it was pretty difficult, I learned a lot during that time. It was the hardest moment of my young life, my 22 years. It was tough, but I made it positive at the end of the day.”
Olivia Miles hasn’t talked much about her religion, but it’s clear that faith and family are big in her life. She leans on her parents and her younger brother, Isaiah, for support. That tight-knit crew has helped her handle the ups and downs of college basketball, including the knee injury that cut her junior season short.
Miles has made a huge mark at Notre Dame. In her sophomore year, she was named First Team All-ACC, Second Team All-American by the AP, and Third Team All-American by the USBWA. She’s also been a Nancy Lieberman Award finalist more than once and made the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list.
But for Miles, it’s not just about personal awards — it’s about making Notre Dame better. “I still believe in myself,” she said. “And I still believe in what I can do at Notre Dame, and [coach Ivey] does as well. One of my only goals was to leave Notre Dame better than I found it. I’m as motivated as ever to make that happen.”
With her talent and mindset, Olivia Miles is well on her way to doing just that.
The post What Is Olivia Mile’s Ethnicity and Religion? Digging Deeper Into Notre Dame Star’s Nationality and Family Background appeared first on EssentiallySports.
