SEATTLE — If you were eagerly waiting for Seattle Storm rookie Nika Muhl's debut Tuesday night, you will have to wait at least a few days.
Muhl was ruled out for the season opener against the Minnesota Lynx due to visa approval issues, according to the Storm.
Muhl, a Croatian citizen, was allowed to play basketball at the University of Connecticut while using a student visa. When Muhl was drafted by the Storm with the 14th pick in the 2024 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft, she became a professional and her student visa was no longer in effect.
Depending on how long it takes for her work visa to be approved, Muhl could make her Storm debut as early as Friday night.
One hour before Muhl was ruled out for the season opener, the Storm tweeted a video of the rookie with the caption, "Ready for her debut."
In 2023, Muhl broke Storm legend Sue Bird's all-time assist record at Connecticut with 686 assists. Muhl's 284 assists in the 2022-23 season set another all-time record for a single season.
"It's huge shoes to fill in," Muhl told ESPN after she was drafted by the Storm in April.
The two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year brings versatility and poise to a Storm team that needs guards to set the tempo and initiate offense.
"I feel I was lucky enough and I had the privilege to have amazing people around me - my sister, my family, all the people watching from home, the people at my table, the people in the audience," Muhl said in an ESPN interview during the draft. "That's my family for life."