Paige Bueckers and Sue Bird Rejoice After Storm's Nika Muhl Finally Scores in WNBA

Various UConn Huskies icons showed Storm rookie Nika Muhl love after she ended her season-long scoreless streak on Thursday.

Apr 1, 2024; Portland, OR, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates with guard Nika Muhl (10) after beating the USC Trojans in the finals of the Portland Regional of the NCAA Tournament at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Seattle Storm rookie Nika Muhl has built an impressive fanbase, which started while she was playing alongside Paige Bueckers at UConn over the past few seasons.

This is perhaps most impressive, given that Muhl's highlight reel in the WNBA had been limited to her iconic pregame outfits. The No. 14 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft only averaged 3.6 minutes per game this season and hadn't scored a single point in the WNBA leading into the Storm's game against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday.

But that all changed with about five minutes remaining in Muhl's rookie season when the former Husky picked the pockets of Mercury rookie Celeste Taylor and scored a transition layup in the fourth quarter; marking her first-ever WNBA points.

Nika Mühl just etched her name in the scoring column ✅

The rook secures her first career basket vs. the Mercury!

SEA-PHX | League Pass 📱 pic.twitter.com/1449klPmjW

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2024

Not only was the Storm's bench ecstatic for their rookie, but Seattle Storm and WNBA legend Sue Bird (who was attending the game courtside) could also be seen getting out of her seat in celebration for Muhl.

SUE BIRD CHEERING AFTER NIKA MUHL SCORES HER FIRST CAREER POINTS 🥹🥹

cr: amberr618 pic.twitter.com/m6e7tINRBF

— WNBA POSTS (@wnbaposts) September 20, 2024

And Muhl's former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers also showed love on social media, writing, "First bucket twinnnnnnnnnnn 🤩🤩🤩," on X moments after Muhl's basket.

First bucket twinnnnnnnnnnn🤩🤩🤩

— Paige Bueckers (@paigebueckers1) September 20, 2024

Bueckers and Bird weren't the only UConn Huskies who celebrated Muhl's success. Her former head coach Geno Auriemma happened to also be in the building, which means he got to witness Muhl's season-long scoreless streak come to an end with his very own eyes.

LFG NIKA MUHL FIRST POINTSSSS pic.twitter.com/iQv6Uv62b6

— kk (@kurcedd) September 20, 2024

And of course, Muhl's dedicated fanbase also took to social media to show how happy and proud they were of their rookie getting her first WNBA basket.

While this was a great way for Muhl to end her first season, the hope is that she'll be able to build on it and earn herself a spot in Seattle's rotation come 2025.