Seattle Storm rookie guard Nika Muhl is set to make her WNBA debut Wednesday against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever after resolving visa issues. Muhl, who was selected as the 14th overall pick from UConn, had been waiting for her student visa to be converted to a P1A work visa, causing her to miss the first four games of the season.
“The process is complete, so she will be with us tonight and have an opportunity to step on to the court,” Seattle coach Noelle Quinn said, as reported by Kevin Pelton of ESPN after the team's shootaround Wednesday morning.
Muhl participated in the Storm's training camp and played in a preseason game against the Phoenix Mercury but was absent for the regular season games due to her visa delay. Her absence left Kiana Williams as the only point guard on the roster behind starter Skylar Diggins-Smith, with veteran Sami Whitcomb also stepping in at the point. The Storm has struggled to a 1-3 start in her absence.
Given the Storm's recent travel-heavy schedule, there have been few opportunities for team practices.
“A lot of her preparation obviously through film, but also we got some extra workouts with her I think when we were in Washington and in New York as well,” Quinn said. “Not a lot of team stuff because we didn't practice but a lot of individual work.”
Nika Muhl and Caitlin Clark’s last face-off was Final Four
Wednesday’s game in Seattle against the Fever marks a significant matchup as Muhl’s last competitive game saw her defending Clark in the NCAA Final Four. Clark, who is now with Indiana, was held to 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting in that game, her lowest output as a senior, though Iowa won 71-69 to advance to the title game.
“The biggest thing is she's had reps with Caitlin Clark and if that's going to be her matchup, then I feel comfortable,” Quinn said. “There's a clear scout that she followed – the physicality that she had, picking her up full court, playing in her space and being physical. Those are the things that stand out to me the most.”
Muhl’s defense against Clark has already influenced how WNBA teams approach guarding the rookie. Veterans DiJonai Carrington of the Connecticut Sun and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton of the New York Liberty have used their experience and physicality to pressure Clark and limit her effectiveness.
“It's kind of magnified now because you have players who have been at this level for multiple years and understand scout, understand physicality, understand strength of players and how you neutralize that strength with what you do defensively,” Quinn said. “More mindfulness around how you defend her and not just hoping that she misses shots is actually playing a part in the coverage.”
Seattle also hopes to see the return of All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Quinn mentioned that Ogwumike’s availability would be a game-time decision.
“As of right now, I feel like there's a positive that she will play,” Quinn said. “Just kind of seeing what happens in that pregame warmup. If she does, being mindful of her minutes.”
Seattle Storm rookie could play in preseason games while still a student
As a Croatian citizen, Muhl missed the Storm’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Lynx while awaiting approval for her U.S. work visa. Muhl had been unable to participate in the Storm's preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks in Edmonton, Canada, due to her visa status, though she did play in a home preseason game against the Mercury under her student visa, scoring six points with three rebounds and two assists.
Now that Muhl has officially graduated from UConn, she requires a professional work visa to join the Storm. The process for obtaining a working visa typically takes several months, but efforts to expedite her approval were necessary given the WNBA season's timeline.
Selected with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Muhl is the only rookie to make Seattle's 12-player roster for opening day. Known for her passing ability and defensive skills, she left UConn as the program’s all-time assists leader and was honored as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Muhl and Clark last faced each other in the NCAA Final Four April 5, where UConn's defense, led by Muhl, held Clark to just six points on 3-11 shooting in the first half, allowing UConn to take a lead at halftime. Clark eventually finished with 21 points, but UConn’s defensive strategy played a significant role in limiting her impact.
Muhl’s defensive performance against Clark has set a template for how WNBA teams might guard the Iowa star. With Muhl now making her WNBA debut, the matchup against Clark adds an intriguing subplot to Wednesday's game, promising a compelling watch for fans.
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