Despite only playing 13 games, Nika Muhl offers perspective on her role with the Storm: "Working my butt off"

The Seattle Storm made Nika Muhl the 14th pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. When the former UConn star made the final roster, Storm coach Noelle Quinn had high praise for her. Quinn told reporters that the Croatian was “pretty consistent” and didn’t “feel like a rookie.”

Fans who were excited to see Muhl’s debut had to wait for four more games. She couldn't see action when the season started due to visa issues. When the paperwork had been sorted out, her supporters were disappointed she hardly saw action.

On Wednesday, Nika Muhl shared on Instagram a clip of her interview with Maggie Vanoni:

“Everybody looks at not playing as something so horrible and so bad, but behind the scenes, I’m working my b*tt off.”

Nika Muhl's Instagram post [Photo: @nika.muhl/IG]

Noelle Quinn has given Muhl 2.6 minutes per game. She has hardly contributed in 13 games for the Seattle Storm. The last time she played was a matchup against the Indiana Fever on Aug. 18 when she came on for barely a minute.

Muhl’s totals for the season will disappoint her fans. She has piled up six rebounds, six personal fouls, three turnovers and one assist.

Fans likely didn’t expect this to happen following Quinn’s appraisal before the season started.

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Seattle’s veteran guards have left Nika Muhl with almost no playing time

Jewell Loyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith are the Seattle Storm’s star backcourt combination. Loyd leads the team in scoring with 20.5 PPG and is arguably its most versatile player. Diggins-Smith is Noelle Quinn’s floor general, who can also score when needed.

Seattle’s perimeter depth includes Sami Whitcomb and Victoria Vivians, who can also play the forward spot. For most of the season, Quinn has stuck to his four-guard rotation, leaving Nika Muhl outside looking in.

The UConn star’s time could come next year when the Storm’s roster could look different. Whitcomb and Vivians will be unrestricted free agents after this season. Seattle could be giving one of those spots to Muhl in 2025.

The Seattle Storm are fifth in the WNBA standings with a 20-13 record, one game behind the Las Vegas Aces (21-12). Quinn’s team doesn’t want to open the playoffs on the road against the defending, two-time champs so they look to have a strong finish. Nika Muhl should keep herself ready as opportunities could unexpectedly come.

Seattle’s rotation will be even shorter in the playoffs. Muhl will only likely get minutes in garbage minutes or if one of the Storm’s backcourt mainstays gets injured. Still, by working hard the future remains bright for the 23-year-old guard.