The WNBA got a lot of attention this year mostly because of rookie sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, but if fans stick around to watch next year, there’s likely to be even more talent hitting the court.
The Seattle Storm‘s Nika Muhl could be one of those talents.
Drafted No. 14 overall out of UConn, the 6-foot guard hasn’t seen much action in her rookie year. In 16 games, she’s averaged 3.8 minutes, 0.1 points and 0.6 rebounds. Muhl scored her first career bucket in Seattle’s regular-season finale Thursday against the Phoenix Mercury.
That might seem like the sign of an early bust to some but to Muhl and Seattle, it’s all going according to plan.
“Everybody looks at not playing as something so horrible and so bad, but behind the scenes, I’m working my butt off,” Muhl told CT Insider’s Maggie Vanoni. “I’m not missing anything. I’m just enjoying the process. And this is my journey, and that’s how it’s supposed to be.”
To be drafted with the second pick in the second round, Seattle must have a role for Muhl. She averaged 5.8 points, 5.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds in her time under UConn head coach Geno Auriemma.
Granted, she’s riding a bench behind well-deserving starters like Jewell Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith. But come next season, her teammates think she looks primed to contribute at a much higher level.
“Her work ethic has always been there,” Loyd told Vanoni. “She’s one of the hardest workers on this team, and people may not see it, and obviously they want her to be on the court, but all the stuff that she’s doing now is to preparing her to come back next season and be great.”
Veteran guards Sami Whitcomb and Victoria Vivians are both on expiring deals this season and if they do not return, it could provide the opportunity Muhl has been waiting for.
All the hard work and learning might lead to more meaningful minutes and, therefore, more opportunities to produce on the court.
Seattle is the fifth seed in this year’s WNBA playoffs, facing off against the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces in the first round.
Muhl will likely stay on the bench for most of that series, but she could always find herself tapped in the case of an unfortunate injury or the need for a change of pace player.
