Nika Muhl’s highly anticipated debut for the Seattle Storm has been postponed due to visa issues. The former UConn women’s basketball point guard, a Croatian citizen, missed the Storm’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Lynx Tuesday as she awaits approval for a U.S. work visa.

Muhl's visa complications are the latest hurdle in her transition from college basketball to the WNBA. She was unable to participate in the Storm's preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks in Edmonton, Canada, on May 4, and her absence extended to the home opener against the Lynx. Muhl could play in Seattle’s home preseason matchup against the Phoenix Mercury May 7 because she had not yet officially graduated from UConn, allowing her to compete under her student visa in the U.S. In that game, she scored six points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists.

Now that Muhl has officially graduated, she cannot join the Storm until her professional work visa is approved. The process for obtaining a P-1 visa, which most international athletes in the U.S. use, typically takes three to six months. However, with the WNBA season already in full swing, efforts to expedite her visa approval are likely underway. Seattle's next game is a rematch with Minnesota on Friday, but the team has not made any official statements regarding her status.

On May 15, the Storm’s public relations team confirmed Muhl’s unavailability via a tweet: “Nika Mühl – OUT (Pending Visa Approval),” as reported by Emily Adams of the Hartford Courant. Interestingly, the team appeared ready for her to compete in their opener, as she was not listed on the availability report the day before the game. Seattle’s official account even posted a video of Muhl entering the tunnel, captioned “Ready for her debut,” just an hour before she was ruled out.

Nika Muhl is the only rookie to make Storm’s roster

Nika Muhl speaks in an interview after she is selected with the number fourteen overall pick to the Seattle Storm in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Selected with the No. 14 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, Muhl was the only rookie to make Seattle's 12-player roster for opening day. Standing at 5-foot-11, Muhl left UConn as the program’s all-time assists leader with 686. In her senior season, she averaged 6.9 points, 6.5 assists and four rebounds per game, shooting 46.2% from the field and 40.2% from three-point range. Muhl also earned honorable-mention All-American honors and was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

Muhl’s arrival in Seattle generated considerable excitement, with Storm legend Sue Bird even congratulating her on social media. Bird, a four-time WNBA champion, welcomed Muhl, humorously noting the issue of jersey numbers, as Muhl wore Bird’s retired number 10 at UConn.

The Storm is eager to see how Muhl's collegiate success translates to the professional level. Known for her passing ability and defensive prowess, she has the potential to significantly impact the team. Muhl's dedication to the game and her high basketball IQ suggest a promising future in the WNBA, once her visa situation is resolved.