Nika Mühl Explained

Nika Mühl
Number:1
Position:Point guard
Height Cm:183
Weight Kg:71
League:WNBA
Team:Seattle Storm
Birth Date:9 April 2001
Birth Place:Zagreb, Croatia
High School:III. Gymnasium
(Zagreb)
College:UConn (2020–2024)
Draft League:WNBA
Draft Year:2024
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:14
Draft Team:Seattle Storm
Career Start:2016
Years1:2016–2020
Team1:ŽKK Trešnjevka 2009
Years2:–present
Team2:Seattle Storm
Highlights:
  • Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
  • 2× Second-team All-Big East (2023, 2024)
  • All-WABA League Second team (2019)
  • UConn career assists record (686)

Nika Mühl (; born 9 April 2001) is a Croatian professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball as a point guard for the UConn Huskies.[1] Twice named Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year while in college, Mühl is UConn's all-time leader in career assists, with 686, and also holds the program records for most assists in a single season (284, set in 2022–23) and in a single game (15 against NC State on November 20, 2022). She was selected 14th overall by Seattle in the 2024 WNBA draft.

Club career

ŽKK Trešnjevka 2009

Mühl played four seasons for ŽKK Trešnjevka 2009 in the Croatian Prva Ženska Liga, from 2016 to 2020.[2] [3] She appeared in 24 games in the Prva liga in her first season, averaging 6.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists.[4] The following season she averaged 9.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the Prva Ženska Liga and 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the Women Adriatic Basketball Association (WABA).[5]

In 2018–2019, she averaged 10.0, 7.9 and 6.2 assists in the Prva Ženska Liga and 11.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists in the WABA. She continued her stellar performance with Trešnjevka during the 2019–2020 season; Mühl averaged 8.6 points and 7.1 assists in the Prva Ženska Liga and 11.7 points and 7.2 assists in the WABA.[6]

College career

Recruiting

Mühl received scholarship offers from several NCAA Division I basketball programs, including Oregon, Ohio State, Louisville, and San Francisco.[7] On April 8, 2019, Mühl announced her commitment to the University of Connecticut. She credited Coach Auriemma's personal trip to Croatia as one reason for her decision: “He was the first one to visit. He made me think that he really cared and that he really wanted me there.”[8] On November 13, 2019, Mühl signed a National Letter of Intent with UConn.[9] [10]

Freshman

During her freshman season, Mühl averaged 5.0 points, 2.7 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.8 steals across 22 games. She made 14 consecutive starts.[11] On 25 February 2021, she scored a season high 19 points in an 81-49 victory against Creighton.[12] In UConn’s first game against High Point in the NCAA Tournament, Mühl rolled her ankle and needed to be helped off the court. She missed the next three games and was unable to return to form in the Final Four.[13]

Sophomore

Mühl was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the 2021–22 season[14] after averaging 2.2 steals per game, second best in the Big East, and headlining the Huskies defense which allowed a league best of 50.8 points per game against conference opponents.[15]

Junior

With Paige Bueckers out for the season, Mühl became UConn’s most important player.[16] Mühl took on the role of leader on both the defensive and offensive end. On November 20, 2022 she set the program record for most assists in a single game with 15 against NC State, a record held previously by teammate Paige Bueckers.[17] She led the nation in assists per game for most of the 2022-2023 season, only finishing behind Caitlin Clark by 0.2 assists. In the final regular-season game against Xavier, Mühl recorded seven assists to bring her season total to 236, five more than the single-season school record set by Sue Bird in 2002.[18] Starting throughout UConn's three games in the Big East Tournament and three more in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, Mühl finished the season with 284 assists.[19]

Senior

In Mühl's senior season at UConn, she played 39 games, all as a starter, averaging 32.1 minutes per game. Her field goal percentage was 46.2%, with a three-point shooting percentage of 40.2%. Over the course of the season, Mühl averaged 6.9 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game, along with 1.3 steals. Her performance earned her a spot on the All-Big East second team.[20]

In the 2024 Final Four tournament game against Iowa on April 5, 2024, Mühl had the primary responsibility of guarding Iowa player Caitlin Clark.[21] Mühl finished her final college game with 9 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds and played all 40 minutes.[22]

Professional career

WNBA

Mühl was asked to attend the 2024 WNBA draft in person and selected in the second round as the 14th pick overall by the Seattle Storm. On May 13, the team announced that Mühl had made the final roster for the 2024 Seattle Storm season.[23]

Mühl made her WNBA debut on May 22, 2024, where she recorded three minutes played and two rebounds. Mühl missed the first four games of the season having issues converting her student visa into a P1A work visa. [24]

National team career

Represented Croatia at the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championship averaging 10.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game.[25]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game FG% Field goal percentage 3P% 3-point field goal percentage
 FT% Free throw percentage RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game
 TO Turnovers per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high°League leader * Led Division I

WNBA

Regular season

|-!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2024| align=center| Seattle| 0 || 0 || .0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career| 0 || 0 || .0|| – || – || – || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0

College

|-!scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| UConn| 23 || 15 || 24.4 || .381 || .343 || .727 || 2.4 || 2.7 || 1.7 || 0.2 || 1.9 || 4.9|-!scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| UConn| 33 || 19 || 21.7 || .431 || .342 || .222 || 3.0 || 2.6 || 1.4 || 0.2 || 1.5 || 3.8|-!scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| UConn | 36 || 36 || 36.6 || .412 || .343 || .729 || 3.9 || 7.9 || 1.5 || 0.1 || 1.4 || 7.1|-!scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24| style="text-align:left;"| UConn | 39 || 39 || 32.1 || .462 || .402 || .571 || 4.0 || 6.5 || 1.3 || 0.2 || 2.6 || 6.9|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 131 || 109 || 29.4 || .427 || .362 || .658 || 3.5 || 5.2 || 1.4 || 0.2 || 1.9 || 5.8

Personal life

Mühl was born in Zagreb, Croatia to parents Roberta and Darko Mühl, both of whom played basketball.[26] [27] She has one younger sister, Hana Mühl,[2] [28] who plays for Ball State University.[29] Other than her native Croatian, Mühl speaks English fluently and can speak limited German.[30]

In April 2024, Mühl attended Kelsey Plum's second annual Dawg Class, a 3-day camp to help top women college athletes transition from collegiate to professional basketball.[31] The 2024 camp was held at the IMG Academy and sponsored by Under Armour.[31]

Awards and honors

College

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Paul Doyle . UConn women's basketball guard Nika Mühl impacting games without scoring: 'Whatever my team needs' . CT Insider . 17 February 2022. 25 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Nika Mühl - Women's Basketball. University of Connecticut Athletics.
  3. News: Alexa Philippou . UConn women's basketball's Nika Mühl stands out with her toughness and stubborness, and Geno Auriemma wouldn't want it any other way . 23 December 2022 . . 22 April 2021.
  4. Web site: ZKK Tresnjevka 2009 Zagreb - 2016–2017 statistics . . 23 December 2022.
  5. Web site: ZKK Tresnjevka 2009 Zagreb - 2017–2018 statistics . . 23 December 2022.
  6. Web site: ZKK Tresnjevka 2009 Zagreb - 2019–2020 statistics . . 23 December 2022.
  7. News: Daniel Connolly . 2020 International Commit Nika Muhl on How UConn Found Her . 23 December 2022 . . 8 April 2019.
  8. News: Logan . Michael . COLLEGE BEAT: Being first across the pond helped Geno bring Croatia star to Storrs . April 8, 2023 . Record Journal . April 15, 2019.
  9. Web site: Putterman . Alex . UConn women's basketball recruits Paige Bueckers, Nika Muhl, Mir McLean sign letters of intent, making commitments official . . March 6, 2020 . November 13, 2019.
  10. News: Mike Anthony . Nika Muhl idolizes Dennis Rodman . 23 December 2022 . . 18 March 2021.
  11. News: Doug Bonjour . UConn freshman guard Nika Muhl out for NCAA second-round game against Syracuse . 23 December 2022 . . 23 March 2021.
  12. News: Doug Bonjour . Nika Muhl's offensive breakout carries tantalizing possibilities for top-ranked UConn women . 23 December 2022 . . 26 February 2021.
  13. News: Daniel Connolly . Nika Mühl, still bitter about Arizona loss, feels like a freshman again . 23 December 2022 . theuconnblog.com . . 14 July 2021.
  14. News: Maggie Vanoni . UConn women's basketball point guard Nika Mühl embracing new role: 'She's grown up a lot' . 23 December 2022 . CT Insider . 16 November 2022.
  15. News: Daniel Connolly . UConn women's basketball's Nika Mühl named Big East Defensive Player of the Year . 23 December 2022 . theuconnblog.com . . 3 March 2022.
  16. News: Daniel Connolly . UConn WBB Weekly: With Paige Bueckers out, Nika Mühl is now UConn's most important player . 23 December 2022 . theuconnblog.com . . 18 August 2022.
  17. News: Mike Anthony . Why UConn women's basketball guard Nika Mühl had record-setting game with 'subtle' performance . 23 December 2022 . CT Insider . 21 November 2022.
  18. Web site: Inquirer . Carl Adamec / Journal . UConn women's notebook: Mühl gets assist to break Bird's record . 2023-03-16 . Journal Inquirer . en.
  19. News: Riley . Lori . Complex relationship: As Nika Muhl drives UConn women forward, she sometimes drives coach Geno Auriemma crazy . April 8, 2023 . Hartford Courant . March 24, 2023.
  20. Bueckers Voted BIG EAST Player of the Year. Big East Conference. 7 March 2024. 23 May 2024.
  21. Web site: Who is Nika Muhl? Everything to know about UConn standout guarding Caitlin Clark in Final Four. The Sporting News. Sutelan. Edward. 15 April 2024. 23 May 2024.
  22. Web site: NCAA Women's Championship – Final Four: (3) Uconn Huskies vs. (1) Iowa Hawkeyes Box Score. ESPN. 5 April 2024. 23 May 2024.
  23. Web site: Adams . Emily . UConn women’s stars make it: Nika Muhl clinches spot in Seattle, Aaliyah Edwards with Washington . Yahoo Sports . Hartford Courant . 14 May 2024 . 13 May 2024.
  24. Web site: Pelton . Kevin . Storm's Nika Muhl set for WNBA debut vs. Fever after visa issues . 22 May 2024 . 11 August 2024 . ABC News . en.
  25. Web site: Nika Muhl at the FIBA U18 Women's European Championship 2018 - FIBA.basketball . fiba.basketball . . 23 December 2022.
  26. News: Walter Villa . When UConn called, it was game on for Croatian recruit Nika Muhl . 23 December 2022 . . 18 April 2019.
  27. News: Jeré Longman . The Road to the Final Four Runs Through Zagreb . 23 December 2022 . . 22 March 2021.
  28. News: Carl Adamec . Mühl learning how vital a point guard's role is at UConn . 23 December 2022 . theday.com . 19 November 2022.
  29. Web site: Hana Mühl . 2022-23 Women's Basketball Roster . Ball State University Athletics . 13 May 2023 . en.
  30. Web site: 2019-04-18 . When UConn called, it was game on for Croatian recruit Nika Muhl . 2024-04-02 . ESPN.com . en.
  31. Web site: (Dawg) Class Is Back in Session . Under Armour . April 19, 2024 . April 20, 2024.
  32. Web site: Maddy Siegrist Named BIG EAST Player of the Year . 2023-03-02 . www.bigeast.com . 2 March 2023 . en.