UConn HC Geno Auriemma solemnly responds to Nika Muhl ACL injury news
Geno Auriemma cut a forlorn figure when responding to news about UConn alumni Nika Muhl's devastating injury just a few hours ago. The talented guard, who the Seattle Storm made the 14th overall pick in this year's WNBA draft, joined Turkish side Besiktas for the 2024-25 season. This was after the Storm failed to make the WNBA playoffs this season.
Muhl tore her ACL in her first game for Besiktas in a FIBA Women's Super Cup game against Fenerbahce yesterday. On hearing the news after the Huskies' first practice session ahead of the 2024-25 season, Auriemma shared his sympathies with Muhl. She admitted that the workload of playing a lot of basketball took its toll on her.
"It’s a lot of basketball man, to go from playing a college season, playing a WNBA season, then going right into. It’s like non-stop, never-ending and I can’t even imagine how they do it and how she feels right now."
Geno Auriemma hints at catching up with Nika Muhl soon
Geno Auriemma ended his remarks on Muhl's injury by revealing that he plans to catch up with the ex-Huskies guard in the near future.
"For somebody who loves the game as much as she does, to be away from it. Obviously, it’s sad, it’s sad. So, I’ll try to catch up with it tonight when I get back."
Muhl left the court on a stretcher during the third quarter of the Besiktas-Fenerbahce game, injuring her knee when she attempted to grab a loose ball. Per Besiktas CEO Özkan Arseven, Muhl will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Muhl's game time with the Storm was extremely limited in her maiden season, playing just 57 minutes across 16 games. The 5'11" guard recorded just two points, 7 assists and 10 rebounds in those appearances.
However, Muhl was one of the Huskies' best guards from a passing perspective under Auriemma. In two seasons with the Huskies, she became the program's career assist leader (686) and set a single-season assist record in the 2022-23 season (284).
She also set a Huskies record for the most assists in a single game, when she made 15 assists on November 20, 2022, in a game against the NC State Wolf Pack.
Geno Auriemma has made some major moves to replace Muhl, including the signing of five-star guards Morgan Cheli and Allie Ziebell. Whether they can replace Muhl in the upcoming season, only time will tell.