“I’ve been waiting”: Former UConn star Nika Muhl reacts to Jana El Alfy’s media day snaps with Egypt flag

Redshirt freshman Jana El Alfy is all set for her first season with the UConn Huskies. The Egyptian center missed the 2023-24 season after she sustained an Achilles tendon rupture during the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup.

On Saturday, Jana El Alfy shared photographs from the media day where she was seen holding the flag of Egypt.

"Year ١…finally," she wrote in the caption.

El Alfy's former and current UConn teammates reacted to the photos, including Nika Muhl, who now plays for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA.

"Finally....... I've been waiting," Muhl wrote.

"Let's go El Alfy," Paige Bueckers commented.

Comments on El Alfy's Instagram post

UConn coach Geno Auriemma shared that El Alfy has been working on her return with diligence.

“She has no life other than rehab because she wants to play so bad,” Auriemma said. “I can't wait for people to see her play. She just has a real unique personality that I think people are gonna really fall in love with.”

Jana El Alfy shares her learnings from one year of missed action

Jana El Alfy wasn't the only UConn player sidelined with injury, as Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin, Ayanna Patterson and Caroline Ducharme also missed playing the 2023-24 season. Instead of letting the situation get to her, the 6-foor-5 center trained to get better and make a healthy return.

"The year and a half I've sat on the bench, I've learned a lot," El Alfy said. "Learning from my teammates, the coaches, sitting there watching made me see things differently. It helped me getting through my injury.

"It's helped me now. I'm doing most of practice but limiting my load a little bit. I'm close to 80 percent."

Jana El Alfy also added that she learned to be patient with her recovery and give herself proper time before returning to court.

"Being patient was big," she said. "I'm not going to get what I want quickly. It's going to take time. I'm on a scooter, and it's like I can't get off the scooter. Then I'm walking, then running, making progress.

"In my head, I'm like, 'I can't wait until I'm able to play again.' I can't wait for that moment. I've worked so hard for this. I worked hard to be here at UConn. It's definitely been a dream of mine, and I have to take it step by step."

With her return and the addition of No. 1 recruit Sarah Strong and Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Chen, the UConn Huskies have increased their chances at a deeper postseason run. They will begin the 2024-25 season on Nov. 7 against Boston.