WNBA teams will not pick Olivia Miles over Paige Bueckers because of UConn hooper’s “star power,” NCAA analyst explains

As Notre Dame and Olivia Miles continue to build off a strong start, fans and experts have questioned Paige Bueckers' chances of being the first overall pick in the 2025 draft.

When Bueckers delayed her WNBA journey in February, she was still projected to be the top pick in the 2025 draft. However, the narrative has changed since the start of the 2024-25 season.

Bueckers' statistics have taken a hit, yet NCAA analyst Robin Lundberg believes her draft stock has risen due to her stardom in women's basketball.

"All of the sudden I've started to see that discussion (Bueckers' candidacy for the top pick) pick up," said (0:54). "I don't think ultimately it is going to happen, especially because of the star power Paige Bueckers has and any prospective team is going to be very wary about passing up on that."

Paige Bueckers averaged 21.9 points per game and was ranked 12th on the NCAA scoring leaderboard. Despite that, she was assumed to contest Caitlin Clark for the top pick in the 2024 draft.

Miles, currently 21 years old, will become eligible for the draft on her next birthday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Olivia Miles holds multiple triple-double records

Olivia Miles posted 11 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for her third triple-double of the season during Notre Dame's win against Virginia (95-54) on Sunday. The feat tied her with Alyssa Thomas (Maryland) as the all-time Atlantic Coast Conference leader in triple-doubles.

It was her second consecutive triple-double. The previous one came before the Christmas break against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds. With that, Miles joined Caitlin Clark as the only player in the major conference with back-to-back triple-doubles.

Miles has the opportunity to set the record by repeating her production against No. 17 UNC on Jan. 5. She is the NCAA leader in triple-doubles this season.