Olivia Miles is preparing for a strong WNBA launch this year. With the draft round the corner, the TCU star has been making merry in the NCAA realm. For example, Miles dropped a career-high 40 points back in February, giving her team a victory over Baylor. And continuing her dominance, the TCU star soon became one of the biggest names in the women’s college basketball realm.
Such a surge prompted her to join the likes of Mikayla Blakes to dominate the 2026 WNBA draft. Unfortunately, in an anticlimax of sorts, Miles’ NCAA stint was cut short recently when her team failed to clinch a victory against the mighty South Carolina Gamecocks.
How Did Olivia Miles Fare In Her Elite Eight Matchup With The Gamecocks?
When the battle lines were drawn between the Gamecocks and TCU, everyone knew that things would be tough. But with the likes of Joyce Edwards dropping some stellar performances, it was South Carolina who clinched a 78-52 victory to register a berth in the Final Four. This was the sixth straight occasion on which the Gamecocks have successfully qualified for the last four.
However, the game started on a pretty contrasting note. Right from the beginning, it looked like TCU was on top. Spearheaded by the 23-year-old, the Horned Frogs were up by 12-4. But soon, the initial lead started to fade. South Carolina stormed back into the game, scoring eight of their next 12 field goal attempts. And by the time the opening quarter ended, they had a two-point lead over TCU.
"We just did what we had to do to in order to win the game."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 31, 2026
Joyce Edwards and the Gamecocks were ready to handle business 😤 pic.twitter.com/m8KsVLBqsc
Speaking of Miles, the future WNBA star had a decent game. While she dropped 18 points, the All-American had a leg injury in the late third-quarter. And as she retired to the bench, things fell apart for her team. Taking advantage to the fullest, Edwards finished off the game with a strong 24-point showing.
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Meanwhile, despite her exceptional run this year, fans subjected Miles to a lot of criticism. But the 23-year-old had a savage reply.
What Did Olivia Miles Say About Trash-Talking Fans?
Miles is averaging 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game this season. And while this is a huge accomplishment, hitting these numbers consistently also speaks volumes about her basketball prowess. Unfortunately, playing against Virginia in the Elite Eight, fans tried to trash-talk the 23-year-old.
“They were telling me that I can’t go left and I can’t make a left layup. So it just makes me laugh because ultimately, we are the ones out there playing. If the roles were reversed, I don’t know if they could take my place and do what I am doing out there,” said Miles.
TCU's Olivia Miles on handling trash talk from fans after beating Virginia in the Elite Eight.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 29, 2026
(via @NCAA) pic.twitter.com/EGB81BbKbB
Thus, with a mixed experience from the NCAA, the young phenom is now ready to take on the WNBA challenge.