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Nika Muhl has one of the more unique stories out of all the tremendous college basketball stars to get selected in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Muhl, 23, was born in Zagreb, Croatia who caught the attention of college scouts while playing for ZKK Tresnjevka 2009 in the First League of Croatia from 2016 to 2020.
Nika Muhl also idolizes Dennis Rodman.
“He plays with so much passion and emotion. … My eye kind of always went to Dennis Rodman, to this guy that just would rebound the ball and throw himself on his head to get the ball,” she said in 2021.
She signed her letter of intent alongside Paige Bueckers in November of 2019 after UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma was the first to visit her in her home country.
Four years later she was drafted by the same WNBA team that another UConn legend, Sue Bird, spent 20 years playing for, the Seattle Storm.
On Wednesday, the UConn Huskies X (Twitter) account shared a video of Nika Muhl expressing her gratitude to Coach Auriemma for everything he has done for her since that day he visited Croatia.
After expressing some concern that she would even make the Storm, Auriemma laid it out for her.
“They drafted you for a reason. So do what they drafted you for,” he told Muhl. “So bring a different culture to them, that pros don’t have. Bring that UConn culture to them.
“Look, you already got the hat on backwards, WNBA hat. You’re already becoming WNBA-ized,” he said with a chuckle.
“Just thank you,” Muhl then told Auriemma, while wiping away tears. “You changed my life and your impact — I don’t think you’re aware of it. To an extent you are, but you impacted so many people around me and including me.
“There’s never been a single person like you and there never will be in the world and I hope you know how unique you are, how special you are.”
“Are you describing yourself?” Auriemma responded, making Muhl chuckle. “Are you talking about you right now?”
“No, but seriously, you’re just legendary, but not as a coach, to me, you’re legendary as a person and I’ll cherish that forever,” Muhl then added.
“I don’t think anybody will ever forget you,” Auriemma replied, then told her to stop talking and get on her flight as they hugged good bye.
That’s the good stuff right there.
There's no one like @MuhlNika 💙 pic.twitter.com/8x88HFmPOb
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) April 24, 2024