Where is Nika Mühl?
Seattle Storm point guard Nika Mühl during the teams preseason win over the Phoenix Mercury at Climate Pledge Arena on May 7th, 2024. (Photo by Liz Wolter)
By Christan Braswell
Seattle, WA - Basketball fans have anxiously awaited a glimpse of Storm rookie guard Nika Mühl taking the WNBA stage. They won’t have to wait much longer.
According to The Next Hoops, Mühl could make her regular-season debut today against the Indiana Fever. Ineligible to play until her work visa was approved, Mühl, a Croatian citizen and former UConn standout, has missed four of her first five games in her professional career.
Mühl couldn’t play in the Storm’s first preseason game in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 4th while still on her student visa because it didn’t allow international competition. She played in the final preseason contest against the Phoenix Mercury in Seattle because she hadn’t officially graduated from UConn yet. In 20 minutes, she had six points on three shots, three rebounds, and two assists.
Since her college career was completed, Mühl’s fate was in the hands of the U.S. government. Most international athletes work under a P-1 visa in the United States and the approval process can take up to three to six months. Mühl’s case was likely ushered through since the WNBA season is in full swing.
The Next also reported that her approval came Friday. Still technically ineligible to play, Mühl had to make a trip to Canada to get a necessary status change approved.
Heading into Friday’s road matchup with the Minnesota Lynx, Storm head coach Noelle Quinn was asked how Mühl and the team are dealing with the ordeal.
"Just stay patient. Just continue to focus on our day-to-day processes... Not worrying about anything else but the basketball at the moment... We have to control our controllables. It's out of our hands as coaches and players.”
It’s an unfortunate situation for both sides. Mühl has been a good teammate and has been visibly supportive during games but knowing you could help make a difference and not be able to isn’t the greatest feeling.
Drafting Mühl with the 14th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Storm leadership was surprised that she was still available. Coming off a strong run in the NCAA tourney, Mühl shot up the draft board for several teams but Storm GM Talisa Rhea and company were first.
Battling through training camp for a roster spot, the team traded away second-year guard Jade Melbourne to the Washington Mystics on May 11th because they believed Muhl fit their timeline of winning a WNBA championship better. Not only did the move show commitment to Mühl, but it proved that the team thinks she can step in and help the team instantly as the backup point guard.
Trading Melbourne three days before the season started essentially guaranteed Muhl a spot on the final roster. From that point, the Storm most likely started the process once they knew she would be a part of their future.
Seattle Storm point guard Nika Mühl during the teams preseason win over the Phoenix Mercury at Climate Pledge Arena on May 7th, 2024. (Photo by Liz Wolter)
Mühl having to earn a roster spot played a factor in the process taking longer than other international prospects, according to a source familiar with the situation.
For example, Aaliyah Edwards, a Canadian citizen, was drafted No. 5 overall by the Washington Mystics to be a long-term cornerstone for the franchise. While playing at UConn, Edwards didn’t need a student visa like Mühl because Canadian citizens aren’t required to have one. Due to agreements like NAFTA and USMCA, acquiring such documents like a work visa comes with a bit of ease compared to other nations.
Employers start the process for a work visa and the Mystics likely got the ball rolling as soon as they could because they knew Edwards would be a mainstay. Despite a stellar collegiate career, there was no guarantee that Mühl would make the final roster. With only 144 spots and sometimes less across 12 current teams, earning a roster spot in the WNBA is not a slight task.
Edwards’ case is likely similar to Chicago Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso. Drafted with the No. 3 overall pick, she will be the woman in the middle for Chicago for the next 10-plus years. Chicago took the route of Washington by prioritizing their young star.
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