Move over, adversity—Nika Muhl is about to school you. The Seattle Storm’s plucky rookie is facing her toughest opponent yet: herself. After a Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League (KBSL) stint went sour with an ACL and meniscus tear, Muhl now has her sights set on a new W—rehabbing like a champ.
In May 2024, Muhl, who apparently can’t sit still during the WNBA offseason, decided to spice things up by playing for Besiktas. Her time in Istanbul was all jump shots and joy until a game against Fenerbache turned into a nightmare. Muhl went down in the third quarter after logging an impressive 27:48 minutes, during which she racked up 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists. However, those gaudy stats came with a price—an early exit and a 79-63 loss. Thanks, Fenerbache.
By October, her overseas season was over, and now the Seattle Storm is playing the waiting game. On November 1, Muhl underwent surgery to repair her ACL and meniscus, with the Storm releasing a cautiously optimistic statement:
“Muhl underwent successful surgery on Friday, November 1 to repair the ligament and meniscus and is taking steps towards a healthy recovery. Updates on her progress and return to play will be made public when available.”
As vague as that sounds, let’s not sugarcoat things—six months of rehab lies ahead, making her status for the 2025 WNBA season a game of wait-and-see. The Storm might need a miracle (or two) to see their rookie suit up by opening day.
But if you think Nika Muhl is sulking on the sidelines, you don’t know Nika. The ex-UConn starlet took to Instagram—because of course she did—and shared her post-op look, complete with knee braces that wouldn’t look out of place in a Mad Max movie. Channeling her inner action hero, she captioned the shot with:
“Day 1 featuring Mad Max & G 🦿lets get it.”
No sulking. No self-pity. Just a woman ready to tackle rehab like it’s the fourth quarter of a tied game. Muhl’s attitude is pure fighter: upbeat, resilient, and even a little cocky in the best way possible. She penned a love letter to herself and her fans on Instagram that screamed, “I’ve got this,” saying:
“Anyone that knows me knows I work my ass off all the time. This time isn’t gonna be any different. I appreciate all the love and support so much – y’all really make this easier for my heart. I am grateful for all the people around me that are true testaments of what belief and perseverance can achieve after being denied hooping.”
“This is just another opportunity for me to compete, this time against myself. Not to be cocky, but that’s an easy W.”
Easy W? That’s the kind of swagger you love to see in an athlete—especially one who spent most of her rookie WNBA season riding the bench. Muhl averaged just 3.6 minutes across 16 games for the Storm, barely showing up on the stat sheet. Still, she had her coaches and teammates raving about her work ethic and maturity, proof that stats don’t tell the full story.
As Nika Muhl embarks on her rehab journey, don’t count her out. She’s battled adversity before, and this time, it’s personal. She’s not just aiming to come back; she’s aiming to come back stronger, better, and, if her Instagram post is anything to go by, even more ready to throw down. Stay tuned, folks. Muhl may be out, but she’s far from done.
