The Portland Fire selected Nika Mühl from the Seattle Storm during the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Expansion Draft, according to an April 3 announcement.
The selection of Mühl is part of the league’s efforts to expand and distribute talent among new teams. Expansion drafts allow new franchises like the Portland Fire to acquire players from existing teams, helping them build competitive rosters for their inaugural seasons.
Mühl was originally drafted by the Seattle Storm as the No. 14 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In her first season with Seattle, she played in 16 games and averaged 2.8 minutes per game. She did not play during the 2025 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus while playing for Besiktas, a Turkish basketball club.
Standing at 5 feet, 11 inches and hailing from Zagreb, Croatia, Mühl was recognized as one of University of Connecticut’s top passers. She earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and was known for her defensive skills against top NCAA scorers Dyaisha Fair and Caitlin Clark during UConn’s run in the 2024 NCAA tournament. Additionally, she received All-America Honorable Mention recognition by The Associated Press in 2024 and was named to All-Big East teams for three consecutive seasons.
The Seattle Storm are set to begin their next season on Friday, May 8 against the Golden State Valkyries at Climate Pledge Arena.
