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Currently preparing to play for Sopron Basket in Hungary, Nika Mühl can’t wait to get back on the court and exhibit the passing and defensive skills that she’s been known for for years.
In a long and fun interview with Swish Appeal, the former UConn Husky talked about a bit of everything. Her injury. European, and Croatian, in particular, basketball culture. Playing for emotional, demanding coaches.
She also discussed being one of the faces of Under Armour, a cat mom, an older sister, a good teammate and simply a basketball fan. She also expressed her admiration for Sue Bird, Ricky Rubio and Miloš Teodosić. Below are some highlights from our conversation:
On playing in Europe, even if her WNBA salary would allow her to sit out the offseason:
I think there’s just a general stereotype about international basketball, just us having so much less resources and there’s the negative narrative about it in the States. Personally, my dream was never to play in the WNBA growing up. Of course, it was there somewhere, but I never thought it would be possible, so my dream was always to play in the EuroLeague. That was my number one goal when I was a kid. Of course in the States the resources are incredible and everything is just… I always use the word “luxurious” over there, whereas in Europe it’s not, but our coaches, the approach to basketball, the traditional working out, the traditional practices and then the fans, you know, I just love that atmosphere. I’ve always wanted to be a part of it. And, you know, [even after] spending four years in the States, now that I can finally have that opportunity, I would never say no.
On UConn head coach Geno Auriemma personally coming to Croatia to recruit her:
It was so incredible! Like oh my God, I’m always at such a loss for words that he flew all the way from Connecticut to Croatia to come for dinner! That was just surreal to me that a person of that status and achievements would cross the ocean to come recruit me. So that was like… that’s it for me, that’s when I realized, “Okay, I don’t even have to visit.” And my dad is a great chef, so he had to go absolutely crazy for that dinner. And I just remember feeling so… I wouldn’t even say embarrassed, but it was just this feeling of, “Oh my God, he’s coming from America.” I’m thinking, I’ve never been to the States… I’m thinking Hollywood, New York, this and that [and] he’s coming to Travno, Zagreb, which is kind of like… the hood, it’s not really nice and he’s outside in the parking lot and I’m bringing him upstairs.
On signing with her current team, Sopron:
Not a lot of people know this, but before, when I was 19, 18, before I went to college, it was a decision between going to college or going pro to Europe. And if I was gonna go pro, I was gonna go to Sopron. So I actually visited Sopron when I was 16 or 17, and they were in the EuroLeague then and I stayed for like a week and I practiced with the first team, got to meet everybody. It was a great experience. I’ve always wanted to play for Sopron. Their history, their coaching staff, the players, the tenacity, the standard… it feels to me like European UConn.
A special thank you to Sopron’s media manager, Noel Pados, for arranging the interview.
