Drafted in 2024, Nika Muhl played in 16 games in two seasons, as an ACL injury cut short her time on the court. Yet the Portland Fire showed faith in the former UConn star and took her in the expansion draft. The Storm GM later explains drafting Muhl with emotional focus on helping her return to form. Though there is another person who has a similar deep connection with the Croatian star, and that’s Paige Bueckers.
The player made a special trip to Croatia just to see her and encourage her, which she could have done over a phone call, too. But that’s what makes the Wings’ guard special, and she opened up on reasons for her actions.
Paige Bueckers Shows Love For Nika Muhl
PB missed the entire college season due to an ACL injury, and the entire UConn team took care of her, helping her to get back on the court 100%. Nika Muhl, one of the underrated stars from the championship side, was also there for her, and now, with Muhl recovering from the injury, the Wings’ guard went to see her.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Bueckers opened up about her trip to Croatia. “That’s like best friend and my sister. Someone who I want to be a bridesmaid at my wedding. We’ve helped each other a lot of times, dark times, times we were fighting injuries and going through stuff,” the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year said.
Paige Bueckers on her surprise trip to Croatia to visit Nika Mühl..
— The Wings Bulletin (@WingsBulletin) April 19, 2026
“That’s like best friend and my sister. Someone who I want to be a bridesmaid at my wedding… we’ve helped each other a lot of times, dark times, times we were fighting injuries and going through stuff…” pic.twitter.com/sZxbiOs7a7
This is not the first time the 2025 NCAA Champion has made a heart-touching gesture. She helped Jana El Alfy follow all the rituals during the holy month of Ramadan and also helped Azzi Fudd, who had an ACL injury.
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Now it’s interesting that the Wings chose Fudd as their first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft and reunited the champion duo.
Paige Bueckers Talks About Playing Alongside Azzi Fudd
As a first overall pick, Fudd did a series of interviews on the next day of her draft night. She showed excitement joining Bueckers at the Wings franchise, but during the training camp, the former Hopkins star spoke for the first time about having her UConn teammate in the Texas-based franchise.
“Obviously, we have a lot of experience going back to, shoot, when we were like 16 playing together. I know her game really well, she knows my game really well, so to be able to be back in this stage to live out our dreams,” Bueckers told reporters. “This is stuff we talked about since we were freshmen in high school. Being at this stage, we got to be together in college, we got to play together at the junior Olympic level, now we get to play in the WNBA together, it’s just a dream come true.”
Paige Bueckers on how Azzi Fudd impacts the game: “She knows how to play and play the right way.” pic.twitter.com/NhC9yzCWym
— Myah Taylor (@t_myah) April 19, 2026
The duo won multiple awards together at the college level and for the national side, too. They will now look to recreate the magic in Dallas.