WNBA star Nika Mühl has revealed her real reasons for cheering on Paige Bueckers at the WNBA draft. Bueckers led the Connecticut Huskies to their 12th NCAA title a week earlier and became Connecticut’s first No. 1 overall pick since Breanna Stewart in 2016 and the sixth overall Connecticut player to be drafted No. 1 overall in the draft’s 30th edition.
By going first overall, she follows the path of Sue Bird (2002, Seattle), Diana Taurasi (2004, Phoenix), Tina Charles (2010, Connecticut), Maya Moore (2011, Minnesota), and Stewart (2016, Seattle) as the only UConn players to be drafted No. 1 overall.
Nika Mühl Speaks About Cheering For Paige Bueckers
Paige Bueckers’ friends and former teammates were on hand to cheer her on as she began the next chapter of her basketball life.
Last year, she was on hand to cheer WNBA star Mühl as she was selected with the No. 14 pick in the second round of the WNBA draft. Mühl was on hand on Monday to cheer her “sister” Bueckers on one of the biggest nights of her career.
Mühl was asked what it meant for her to be there for Bueckers, and the 24-year-old did not hold back on how she felt.
Now it’s her turn to support 🥹
Nika Mühl shares why it’s so special to be at the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by @statefarm to cheer on her former teammate and friend, Paige Bueckers! pic.twitter.com/zkL58g9gfb
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 14, 2025
“I mean, it just feels like a full circle moment,” Mühl said. “Even if she wasn’t there last year, I would still be here supporting her, and that’s my sister, and it’s so cool to see her dreams come true, you know, National Championship and now WNBA draft just a week later. It’s crazy, but it’s so rewarding, and I’m happy for her.”
Bueckers Grateful For Huskies Teammates
Bueckers sent a heartfelt message to her Huskies after the Dallas Wings named her the No. 1 overall pick.
“They mean everything to me, all they’ve helped me get through, all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, they’ve seen every side of me, and the love there is unconditional, so forever grateful for them,” Bueckers said when asked about her Huskies teammates.
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“I want to cherish that relationship for the rest of my life, and I wouldn’t be here without them. I just want to show a sense of gratitude to them,” she added.
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