Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese have all made their WNBA regular-season debuts, but one former college star remains sidelined as the season gets underway.
Storm rookie Nika Muhl isn’t yet eligible to play, leaving the team without its second-round pick after her impressive career at UConn.
Muhl gained a large following during her time with the Huskies, emerging as a defensive weapon for coach Geno Auriemma
. A two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Muhl averaged just 6.9 points per game as a senior but consistently impacted the game as a passer and defender in a way that appealed to WNBA teams.
Here’s what you need to know about Muhl’s status and when she’s expected back on the court to make her WNBA debut.
MORE: Can Caitlin Clark be an All-Star in her WNBA rookie season?
Why isn’t Nika Muhl playing?
Visa issues are keeping Muhl off the court, despite the rookie being in the U.S. and with the team.
Muhl was able to play basketball at UConn on a student visa, but the process changes for her now that she is no longer a student. Muhl is from Croatia and didn’t arrive in the U.S. until she began her college career with the Huskies.
Muhl was able to play in the preseason on her student visa, appearing in one game and playing well off the bench…
