Nika Muhl Misses 2026 WNBA Season After Second ACL Surgery

Seattle Storm point guard Nika Muhl is facing one of the most difficult chapters of her young career. On April 1, 2026, the 24-year-old Croatian guard underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee — her second consecutive season-ending knee injury in less than two years. The Storm confirmed the news on April 2, and when her close friend and fellow UConn alum Paige Bueckers publicly reacted on Instagram, the story exploded across sports media. Fans, analysts, and fellow athletes are rallying around Muhl as she faces the grueling road of a second ACL recovery.

What Happened: Nika Muhl's Right Knee Injury

The injury occurred on March 11, 2026, during a FIBA Women's EuroBasket Qualifier match in which Muhl was representing her home country of Croatia. The play that ended her season was a non-contact moment that will be painfully familiar to anyone who watched her 2024 setback — a torn ACL and meniscus, this time in the right knee.

Muhl was transported back to the United States for evaluation and treatment. Three weeks later, on April 1, she went under the knife, with the surgery deemed a success. According to Yahoo Sports, the Storm confirmed the procedure was completed without complications — a small but meaningful piece of good news amid a devastating setback.

Never one to stay quiet, Muhl posted from her hospital bed almost immediately after waking up. Her message: "[Expletive] happens twice, but so does the get back. Thank you for all the love." The post went viral, drawing thousands of comments from fans and players across the league.

Back-to-Back ACL Tears: The Full Injury Timeline

What makes Muhl's situation so striking — and so heartbreaking — is that this is not her first rodeo with catastrophic knee injuries. Just 18 months earlier, she suffered an almost identical fate.

• October 3, 2024: While playing for Turkish club Beşiktaş in the FIBA SuperCup, Muhl tore her left ACL and meniscus, wiping out her entire 2025 WNBA season before it began.
• March 11, 2026: Playing for Croatia in EuroBasket Qualifiers, Muhl tears her right ACL and meniscus — a mirror-image injury on the opposite knee.
• April 1, 2026: Successful surgery performed on the right knee.
• April 2, 2026: The Seattle Storm officially confirm the surgery and announce Muhl will miss the entire 2026 WNBA season.

As the Seattle Times reported, Muhl's last WNBA game dates all the way back to September 19, 2024. The Storm's 2026 regular season opens May 8, a date Muhl will now watch from the sidelines for the second straight year.

The Klay Thompson Comparison: What It Means for Muhl's Career

Sports fans with long memories quickly drew comparisons to Klay Thompson, who famously tore his right ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals and then, during his recovery, tore his left Achilles in November 2020 — missing two full consecutive NBA seasons. Like Thompson, Muhl has now suffered major, consecutive-season injuries to both legs.

Yahoo Sports noted the parallel, describing it as a "Klay Thompson-esque" run of misfortune. But the comparison carries a hopeful note as well: Thompson came back from both injuries to continue his career at a high level, eventually winning an NBA championship. The basketball world is hoping Muhl follows a similar trajectory.

ACL recovery typically takes 9–12 months, meaning Muhl would theoretically be cleared for basketball activity sometime in early-to-mid 2027, putting her on track for the 2027 WNBA season — if her recovery goes smoothly.

For athletes navigating long recovery periods, gear like ACL recovery knee braces and physical therapy resistance bands become essential tools in the rehabilitation process.

Paige Bueckers, the WNBA Community, and the Outpouring of Support

The moment that sent Muhl's story into overdrive was a single Instagram comment. On April 3, 2026, Paige Bueckers — Muhl's former UConn teammate and one of the WNBA's brightest stars — responded to Muhl's hospital bed post with a message that was equal parts funny and touching:

"Two new and improved knees incoming."
— Paige Bueckers

The comment resonated deeply with fans who have watched this friendship unfold since their college days at UConn. Bueckers and Muhl were backcourt partners for the Huskies, and their bond has remained strong through Muhl's injury struggles. The lighthearted framing of "two new knees" struck a chord — acknowledging the severity of the situation while projecting positivity.

MSN Sports covered the widespread well wishes pouring in from around the WNBA, with players and fans alike expressing solidarity with the young guard.

Who Is Nika Muhl? A Look at the Player Behind the Headlines

For those new to following the Storm, it's worth understanding just how special Muhl was projected to be before injuries derailed her early pro career.

Born in Zagreb, Croatia, Muhl came to the United States to play college basketball at the University of Connecticut (UConn), one of the most storied programs in women's basketball history. Over four years and 139 games with the Huskies, she established herself as one of the most gifted point guards in the country — not through scoring, but through elite playmaking and suffocating defense.

Her statistical legacy at UConn speaks for itself:

• 284 assists in a single season — a UConn program record
• 686 career assists over 139 games — also a program record
• A reputation as one of the best on-ball defenders in college basketball

Those numbers earned her a spot in the 2024 WNBA Draft, where the Seattle Storm selected her No. 14 overall in the second round. The Storm saw in Muhl a player who could immediately contribute as a backup point guard and defensive specialist, with the potential to grow into a starter.

As MSN Sports detailed, Muhl's trajectory made her one of the most exciting young players entering the league — which makes the consecutive lost seasons all the more difficult to watch.

What's Next for Muhl and the Seattle Storm

For the Storm, the 2026 season will open without one of their most anticipated young players. Seattle has built one of the most intriguing rosters in the WNBA, and Muhl was expected to be a key contributor as a defensive disruptor and playmaker off the bench.

The organization has been supportive throughout both of Muhl's recovery processes, and there's little doubt she remains part of their long-term plans. ACL recovery science has advanced significantly, and with proper rehabilitation, players regularly return to full effectiveness — sometimes even stronger than before surgery.

For Muhl personally, the mental challenge of a second major recovery may be just as difficult as the physical one. Rehab from a torn ACL and meniscus is a months-long process requiring consistent work with foam rollers, compression ice wraps, and athletic recovery equipment. Her public response — defiant, grateful, and forward-looking — suggests she has the mental makeup to handle it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nika Muhl's Injury

What injury did Nika Muhl suffer in 2026?

Muhl tore the ACL and meniscus in her right knee on March 11, 2026, while playing for Croatia in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket Qualifiers. She underwent successful surgery on April 1, 2026.

Will Nika Muhl play in the 2026 WNBA season?

No. The Seattle Storm officially confirmed on April 2, 2026 that Muhl will miss the entire 2026 WNBA season due to her right knee surgery. The season opens May 8, 2026.

Has Nika Muhl torn her ACL before?

Yes. Muhl previously tore her left ACL and meniscus on October 3, 2024, while playing for Turkish club Beşiktaş, causing her to miss the full 2025 WNBA season. Her 2026 injury is to the opposite knee.

How did Paige Bueckers respond to Muhl's injury?

Bueckers commented on Muhl's Instagram post from the hospital, writing: "Two new and improved knees incoming." The supportive message went viral on April 3, 2026, drawing widespread attention to Muhl's situation.

When could Nika Muhl return to the WNBA?

Standard ACL and meniscus recovery takes approximately 9–12 months. If her rehabilitation progresses as expected, Muhl could be cleared for basketball activity in early-to-mid 2027, making the 2027 WNBA season her most realistic return target.

Conclusion: Rooting for Nika Muhl's Return

Nika Muhl's story is one of the most compelling — and most difficult — in the WNBA right now. A 24-year-old with elite playmaking ability, a storied college career at UConn, and a bright professional future ahead of her has now lost two consecutive seasons to major knee injuries. The back-to-back ACL tears, affecting both knees, represent a level of misfortune that is almost impossible to comprehend.

And yet, her response has been remarkable. Posting from her hospital bed with defiance and gratitude, supported publicly by Paige Bueckers and privately by countless teammates and coaches, Muhl has shown the character that made Seattle want to draft her in the first place. The basketball world will be watching closely — and rooting hard — as she begins the long road back to the court.