SEATTLE — Caitlin Clark's first professional game in Seattle will be the overarching storyline on Wednesday, but many Storm fans will be eagerly awaiting a different rookie who could finally make her regular-season debut in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Nika Muhl, the No. 14 overall pick by the Storm in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has yet to play so far this season while she awaits approval of her professional visa. Muhl is a Croatian citizen and after her student visa expired following her graduation from college.
She is listed as probable on the Storm's injury report from Tuesday evening, but The Next's Howard Megdal reported Tuesday citing sources that Muhl had cleared the necessary hurdles with her visa approval and will be able to suit up for the Storm on Wednesday.
The Storm announced Wednesday afternoon that Muhl would be available for Wednesday's game.
Megdal reported that Muhl's visa was approved Friday by the U.S., but she needed to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate to complete the process. He reported that she would travel to Canada to do so, but Monday was Victoria Day in the country, a national holiday.
Sure enough, the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver's official X account posted a photo Tuesday of Muhl and Consul General James DeHart. The latter said his office looked forward to seeing Muhl take the court on Wednesday night for the Storm's game against the Indiana Fever.
Muhl did play in one preseason game for the Storm on May 7, but she was only able to play because she had yet to officially graduate from the University of Connecticut (UCONN), which meant her student visa was still active.
As is mentioned in the X post above, Wednesday will be a rematch for Muhl and Clark. UCONN and the Clark's University of Iowa squad faced off in the Final Four, and both women played the full 40 minutes of game action.
Muhl was primarily responsible for defending Clark, and held the eventual top draft pick to her lowest point total of the 2024 NCAA Tournament (21 points).
Although both are with new teams, expect to still see plenty of matchups between the two rookies in what should be one of the most heavily-attended Storm home games in recent memory.
Tip-off at Climate Pledge Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m., and tickets are still available for purchase.
