Far along have the two roommates come. Where babysitting a cat or braving through an injury together made the conversations once, we now see a strife to remain updated as courts change beneath and the miles distance them further. “Chicago pls take care of her,” Olivia Miles would write as she set towards TCU and her former teammate, Maddy Westbeld, towards the Windy City. They may be moving on, embracing new chapters, but keeping tabs? That’s something they haven’t foregone.

It’s been about two weeks since the Chicago Sky called Westbeld’s name in The Shade, and GM Jeff Pagliocca admitted it is “truly exciting” to land a player like her. The Fighting Irish star has since visited her new home, introduced herself to the city, and made her confidence known. But the real journey would only begin on Sunday, 27th– the Chicago Sky made its way to the training camp, and Olivia Miles wasn’t about to miss it. 

2 days into the camp, the new TCU guard made sure the world knew she was cheering from afar. She took to her Instagram story, posting a photo the Sky had shared of Westbeld grinding through practice, all intensity and focus, and added nothing more than a simple heart-hands emoji. That’s Miles, little talk, lots of love. And the former Notre Dame star would need it, too. 

Westbeld is signed with the Sky on a rookie scale contract, but she is going to need to prove her game in taking pressure off of Angel Reese in the frontcourt. She may be coming off an injury-plagued run, but Maddy knows her strengths and is excited to put it all out. But also, she isn’t letting go of the opportunity to learn from the best.

“I am just looking to be better right now and looking for things I can improve on… They [coaches and veterans] are very willing to tell me where to go, what to do, how to shift my feet. It’s so many little details. I mean that’s what makes you great– perfecting those small things. It’s so much fun,” Westbeld said after day 2 of the training camp.

The Fighting Irish star averaged 12.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game over five seasons, shooting nearly 47 percent, coming into the league. When the Sky decided to draft her, they made it clear she needn’t really prove herself. For Westbeld, that was a real confidence booster, something that planted faith with the franchise. She is here now, among the veterans, the game’s greatest, and being what Olivia Miles calls, “A pro.” 

And as Westbled fares, with Miles’ consistent support, it has been no different for the TCU star. She may not be in the same league yet, but the Sky newbie is keeping up. “Beanieee weanieeeee,” she commented as Miles shared a dump on Instagram, which included the pictorial with her new program, TCU, and of course, a picture of Maddy with their cat, Bean.

For 4 years they shared the court, but now life has pulled them onto different tracks now.

Olivia Miles’ Bold Move to TCU: A Fresh Start

Miles’ move hit hard in South Bend. She had spent her entire college career with the Irish, starting 95 of 101 games. This past season, she averaged 15.4 points per game– second highest on the roster. And alongside freshman star Hannah Hidalgo, she formed a backcourt built for a title run.

So when she decided to walk away, people naturally asked why. Some whispered it had to do with NIL deals. Others said she just wanted a fresh start, somewhere she could lead without having to share the spotlight with Hidalgo’s meteoric rise. Whatever the reason, Miles made it clear she trusted her new coach, Mark Campbell.

“Coach Mark Campbell is one of the greatest in the game,” Miles said on TNT’s Inside the NBA. “He has a very direct plan for me and for our team.” Her goal now is simple: to act like a pro before she even officially becomes one. “Every day on campus, I want to act and be the way a pro would be,” she said, emphasizing she’d be ready for the league then. And considering Campbell’s track record—especially his work with players like Hailey Van Lith—Miles’ bet on herself is starting to look like a smart one.

Meanwhile, 900-plus miles north in Chicago, her former Notre Dame roommate and best friend, Maddy Westbeld, is chasing her own dream, gearing up for her WNBA rookie season with the Chicago Sky. No matter how far the game takes them, the bond between Miles, Westbeld, and their shared cat, Bean, remains unshakable. Silent Instagram posts. Shared memories. Two friends living different dreams but always staying rooted in the same place. If that’s not the stuff of a classic bestie story, what is?