Can Nika Mühl Still Be a Game Changer for Storm?
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3031"]
Nika Mühl , the Seattle Storm’s hyped former 2024 second-round pick, is entering a make-or-break season in 2026. Credit: Zafer [/caption]
When the 2026 WNBA Draft rolls around in April, it will be two years since the Seattle Storm drafted former UConn star guard Nika Mühl.
Mühl, who holds UConn’s career assists record (686) and was a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, was selected by the Storm with the 14th pick in the second round of the 2024 draft. Once an exciting addition to the backcourt, Mühl has still played in just 16 games for the Storm.
Seattle is going to have tough decisions on the horizon for its backcourt, especially if it decides to bring in a guard with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Mühl is still under contract through 2027.
Is there still a chance Mühl could be a core component for future Storm rosters?
Rookie woes, injuries holding Mühl back
Mühl played in just 16 games during the 2024 season and averaged 3.6 minutes per game. She turned those limited opportunities on the court into just two total points (1 for 14 FG), 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Former Storm head coach Noelle Quinn asserted that Mühl was doing well in practice and just needed to acclimate to the competition level of the WNBA. Quinn, however, typically was hesitant to play rookies, regardless of their professional readiness (i.e., Dominique Malonga in 2025).
After the WNBA season, Mühl — who is from Croatia — suffered a torn ACL while playing overseas. She missed the entire 2025 season.
Once thought to be a potential game-changing defender for the Storm, Mühl has faded into the background with little time on the court in two seasons. However, she’s still one of just four players Seattle has under contract for the 2026 season.
Mühl, who has been playing for Sopron Basket in Hungary during the WNBA offseason, Mühl is recovering from yet another injury. Sopron announced that Mühl tore a ligament in her ankle at the end of Croatia’s EuroBasket qualifying game against Greece on Nov. 12 and was expected to be out for three to four weeks.
While it’s not a serious injury, it is a big blow to the young guard as she tries to prove she can remain healthy enough to play an entire WNBA season.
Can Mühl still be a critical piece for Storm?
If she can stay healthy, yes.
The Storm were so desperate for perimeter defense in 2025 that they traded a first-round pick for Brittney Sykes as a rental. Regardless of who they are able to re-sign or not, Mühl is an excellent perimeter defender and made a career out of it at UConn.
Mühl primarily needs to develop as a scorer. She can already pass, rebound and defend with the best players in the world, but she needs to become a more efficient shooter to be a complete WNBA point guard — especially if she were to be the Storm’s starter.
At times, Mühl has shown she can do that. She had 21 points (with a trio of 3-pointers) and seven assists in the November qualifying game, where she was injured. The competition level in the WNBA is rising, and guards with Mühl’s skill set still need to contribute on that end of the court to earn a role
Even if healthy, it’s unlikely Mühl will immediately step into a starting role in 2026. That will likely be reserved for a top rookie pick or a free agent signing. But a potential sixth player or frequent rotational role could be perfect for Mühl as she continues to develop.
The hype has died down on Mühl’s original arrival in Seattle, but she could revive the excitement just by being healthy as the 2026 season gets closer. Fans who were excited about her being drafted by the team in 2024 will be back in droves.
Mühl has to balance her overseas development with trying to be ready for a make-or-break campaign in the WNBA.
