The new-look Seattle Storm entered Barclays Center Monday night with goals of trying to build chemistry on the fly. After star offseason signees Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith joined forces with Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor, the next step would be to fortify roles from key players on the depth chart.
Storm head coach Noelle Quinn hasn’t been able to do that with the team’s top draft pick: former UConn guard Nika Mühl. Mühl is traveling with the team but has missed the Storm’s first three games due to a pending work visa approval. Muhl, a Croatian citizen, was again listed as out for Monday’s game against the Liberty. Her student visa was terminated after her college graduation and she been awaiting work approval since her arrival to the WNBA.
“It amazes me. I’m Australian. I got my visa pretty easily,” said Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. “But I wasn’t in college I suppose… It’s surprising to me why.”
The head coach added: “It’s been a few weeks now. It usually doesn’t take that long. But I’m not in that space either. Hopefully she’s back soon.”
The Storm drafted Mühl with the No. 14 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft after the guard averaged 6.9 points, 6.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds in her final UConn season. Her addition to the bench fortifies a unit that already includes 2023 All-Rookie Team selection Jordan Horston and veteran center Mercedes Russell.
“Just be patient. Obviously it’s frustrated,” said Breanna Stewart, who won four NCAA championships with UConn. “A lot of us have never gone through a situation like this.”
Stewart said she’s gone through a visa situation with her wife, Marta.
“I know she’s itching to be out on the court and her time hopefully is gonna come very, very soon,” Stewart said about Mühl.
MISSING OUT ON OGWUMIKE
Monday’s matchup against the Liberty is the first time former MVP Ogwumike entered Barclays Center as a member of the Storm. Ogwumike, who entered free agency in the offseason after 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, was courted by Liberty brass. Stewart was present with Ogwumike at Nets games and involved throughout the process. On Monday, Stewart answered if she was upset when the Liberty failed to acquire the eight-time All-Star.
“Yes and no,” Stewart said. “We would be lucky to have Nneka.”
The consolation prize for missing out on Ogwumike was the entire Liberty starting five returning for a second season.
“But she’s an MVP, a top talent in this league and she’s gonna do great things for Seattle,” Stewart said.
NEW BIG 3
The Liberty got a look at Storm’s new Big 3 Monday: Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith and Loyd. The trio have 19 All-Star Game selections amongst themselves and face the same hurdles the Liberty dealt with in 2023. Early in 2023, the Liberty were forced to mesh together during regular-season games with minimal practice time. The Storm are now doing the same.
“It just takes time. It took us time,” Brondello said.
