Olivia Miles is leaving Notre Dame to join TCU, while Ta’Niya Latson has transferred from Florida State to South Carolina.
Next season, fans will not see Olivia Miles and Ta’Niya Latson compete in the ACC.
The multi-time All-American point guard and the nation’s leading scorer entered the transfer portal at the end of March. On Tuesday, they revealed their new teams.
Miles will conclude her college basketball career in the Big 12 at TCU, stepping into the role of Hailey Van Lith, adding to a lineage of talented guards under coach Mark Campbell. Meanwhile, Latson reunites with her high school teammate Raven Johnson at South Carolina, bringing a much-needed scoring ability to a team that recently lost the national title game to UConn by 23 points.
When Miles and Latson entered the portal, they immediately became the standout players available, leaving significant gaps on their previous teams, Notre Dame and Florida State. They are now expected to elevate their new squads. Miles will aim to ensure that TCU’s historic Elite Eight run is not just a one-off achievement, while Latson strives to assist South Carolina in returning to the pinnacle of college basketball.
Here’s an analysis of how both players impact their teams.
Olivia Miles transforms TCU into a contender
The Horned Frogs are coming off their most successful season to date. In his second year at the helm, Mark Campbell led TCU to a record 34 wins, its first Big 12 championship, and the team’s inaugural appearances in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
However, at least three of the top four players from that squad—Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince, and Agnes Emma-Nnopu—are leaving, either pursuing the WNBA or due to graduation. The status of another key player, All-Big 12 First Team selection Madison Conner, remains uncertain as she was honored on TCU’s senior night but has not yet clarified her intentions regarding the WNBA Draft.
Regardless of Conner’s decision, TCU needed to make strategic moves in the transfer portal to maintain a competitive roster, especially with the departures of the other three starters and the absence of any ESPN Top 100 recruits joining this season. The acquisition of Miles, however, positions TCU as a strong contender for the Big 12 title again and paves the way for another deep run in March Madness.
In every season she has been healthy, Miles has reached the Sweet 16. She helped Notre Dame secure an ACC regular-season title in 2023, although her junior season was marred by a knee injury. This past season, she bounced back, earning All-ACC and All-American honors for the third consecutive time, averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc. Had she declared for the WNBA Draft, she would likely have been a top-five pick. Instead, she significantly enhances TCU’s prospects.
“There is not a better point guard in the country than Olivia,” Campbell stated. “She is a generational talent. Her vision, creativity, and playmaking ability make her a perfect fit in our pick-and-roll system.”
TCU has also welcomed Kentucky center Clara Silva and Texas A&M guard Taliyah Parker to complement Miles and returning starter Donovyn Hunter. Additionally, the transfer portal remains open for further enhancements.
Ta’Niya Latson addresses South Carolina’s needs
Since A’ja Wilson’s senior season in 2017-18, no player under coach Dawn Staley has averaged over 20 points per game. While this is partly by design, as Staley has favored a deep and balanced rotation, this season exposed the Gamecocks’ need for a primary scorer—someone who can consistently deliver points in critical moments when the defense and game plan falter.
Latson, who is transferring after three successful years at Florida State, is entering her final collegiate season with South Carolina. She has averaged over 21 points per game throughout her college career, leading the nation with an impressive 25.2 points per game this season. In addition to her scoring prowess, Latson ranked eighth nationally in free throws made, second in usage rate, sixth in Player Efficiency Rating (PER), and fifth in offensive win shares per 40 minutes.
With Latson’s arrival, South Carolina’s offense is set to improve dramatically. A former recipient of the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Year award, Latson was an All-American this season and a three-time All-ACC honoree.
She will occupy Te-Hina Paopao’s position at shooting guard and is likely to find more open opportunities than she did at Florida State, where she was the clear primary scoring option. Teaming up with veteran Raven Johnson and talented juniors MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson, Latson could help create one of the most formidable backcourts in the nation.
