What UConn women’s basketball great Diana Taurasi said about WNBA rookie Nika Mühl: ‘Selfless’.

Former UConn women’s basketball star Diana Taurasi had high praise for Nika Mühl, the latest Husky to join the ranks of the WNBA.

Mühl’s first WNBA preseason appearance came against Taurasi as the Seattle Storm faced the Phoenix this week.

Following the game, there was a postgame video of Mühl talking to Christyn Williams and Taurasi. Mühl was knocked over by Taurasi under the basket during the game.

“You were pushing me all over the court!”  Mühl said to Taurasi.

“I was waiting for you,” Taurasi replied.

On a WNBA media Zoom call Thursday, Taurasi was asked about welcoming new UConn alumni into the league.

“Yeah, I’ve been a fan of Nika since she got the school,” Taurasi said.

“I mean, she plays with that, that grit. She has that Eastern Bloc mindset, which nothing is given to them and I just love the way she works and she’s gonna have a hell of a career, because she loves the game, because she’s selfless. She plays for the team. It’s always nice to have a fellow Husky around. We’ve gone through the same experiences with Coach (Geno Auriemma), so I’m just happy for her.”

The Zagreb, Croatia native missed the Storm’s exhibition opener against the Los Angeles Sparks in Edmonton due to issues with her student visa.

Mühl is the backup point guard to starter Skylar Diggins-Smith and subbed in for Diggins-Smith twice in the preseason game against Phoenix. She finished the game with six points, three defensive rebounds and two assists in the Storm’s 85-59 win over the Mercury at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.

Taken by Seattle with its first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft (14th overall, second pick of the second round) on April 15,  Mühl missed her only shot and was called for a blocking foul against Taurasi as the former UConn star and WNBA’s all-time leading scorer finished a drive to the basket to close the first quarter.