Everything was breaking right for Notre Dame women’s basketball until a scary moment in the fourth quarter.
With the No. 3 seeded Fighting Irish leading Stephen F. Austin 82-43 with 8:44 remaining in the final quarter of the first-round matchup of the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament, guard Olivia Miles went down with an apparent ankle injury.
Miles rolled her ankle on a Lumberjack player with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Luckily for Irish fans, she was able to walk off under her own power, but her status will be a question mark for Notre Dame with the second-round game to be played on Sunday against Michigan.
She did not return to the game with the Fighting Irish holding a substantial lead. Here’s the latest on her injury:
Olivia Miles injury update
After rolling her ankle on the SFA driver’s foot, Miles was on the floor and in evident pain as trainers, coach Niele Ivey and star Hannah Hidalgo were checking on her on the court. After a couple of minutes, Miles could get up and walk off the court on her own power. After heading to the bench, Miles headed straight to the locker room.
Despite the Fighting Irish holding a significant lead for most of the game, Miles had just two points in 24 minutes. She finished 0 for 6 from the field and 0 for 4 from 3-point range. According to the ESPN broadcast, it was the first time in Miles’ career she did not score a field goal in a game.
However, she added eight assists and just one turnover. Notre Dame was +31 when Miles was on the court.
According to Ivey, Miles injured her leg by stepping on someone’s foot, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Ivey said she is unsure at the moment if Miles will be able to play in Notre Dame’s next game against Michigan Sunday, but Miles has said she is ready to take the floor again.
On the season, Miles averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game on 49.8% shooting entering play on Friday.