GSV Expansion Draft Prediction: Seattle Storm

Chasing the Storm, plus bonus E1P video

The primary index for the whole Expansion Draft Series is here.

Fansided: Nika Muhl

Muhl was among the most impressive players in last year's NCAA Tournament, a constant pest on defense — Caitlin Clark was very happy to see her and the Huskies go — and a connector on offense who was a critical piece of UConn's run to the Final Four. She was buried on a veteran-heavy Storm squad this season, averaging just 3.6 minutes over 16 games played, but she should be a starter in the league for a long time based on her IQ and toughness alone.

Apricot: This video started as an analysis of Caitlin Clark v Paige Bueckers, and became a celebration of Nika Muhl.

SI.com: Nika Muhl

While the Valkyries may want to select a Storm player with a higher ceiling, we're big Nika Muhl fans around here and would love to see her get an opportunity with a new franchise. The former UConn Husky barely saw any playing time this season as a rookie, and there's no reason to think that will change next year. Plus, like Kate Martin, Muhl has a massive fanbase. The Valkyries will need to sell tickets. Muhl would help with that. Not to mention that her joining the Valkyries might mean she'd get reunited with a former UConn teammate, who we're projecting Golden State to Draft in 2025...

You look at a team like the Seattle Storm, and if they protect six players, there’s nothing in that that interests me if I’m a Golden State GM. There’s nothing I want out of that.

The Ringer: Mercedes Russell or Nika Muhl

Sohi: Right. I do want Nika, though, right?

Merchant: I would imagine she’d be one of the six they protect.

Sohi: Well, they can protect… imagine they obviously protect Jewell Loyd, Skylar, Ezi Magbegor, Jordan Horston, and Gabby Williams, right?

Merchant: Yep. So Nika’s your sixth because they don’t have to protect Nneka because she’s an unrestricted free agent and cannot be cored anymore.

Sohi: If you’re trying to win now, like, you maybe protect Russell instead.

Merchant: I don’t think so.

Sohi: You don’t think so?

Merchant: Yeah. This is my wishful thinking—I want Nika Mühl on this.

Sohi: So here’s my strategy if I’m the Valkyries. You know you’re not going to play to win right away unless they go the Golden Knights route.

Merchant: (laughing) So my dream team was basically like, let’s get everybody’s favorites and then a couple of high-upside rookies. So I was like, “Okay, Nika Mühl,” which you’re saying is probably not going to be available.

Sohi: Probably not going to be available.

Valhalla.Basketball (very detailed analysis at site): Mackenzie Holmes or Nika Muhl

The Valkyries just do not have much room for strategy when it comes to picking from Seattle as there are so few reasonable choices. Assuming that the six that we listed first are protected, the obvious choice is picking Mackenzie Holmes and giving her the chance to show that she is healthy in training camp. If the Storm leave Nika Muhl unprotected, she becomes the obvious choice even with the likelihood of her missing the season since she would still be on her rookie contract the following year.

If Gabby Williams is the player left unprotected, the team has to evaluate whether she is genuinely a core candidate and whether any other unrestricted free agent would be a better choice for that lone spot and then weigh that against her willingness to sit out if she is displeased with the designation being applied to her. If the answer to one of those questions is that they should not select her, then the only choice left may be to select the rights to Tijana Krivacevic, who was picked near the end of the 2010 draft and has had a solid European career without really being in contention for a WNBA roster spot. Even though she will almost certainly never join the team, there is value in retaining her rights to send out as a minimal asset in a trade where the Valkyries receive a salary dump. Seattle may also offer something in a trade to secure all seven players that they might want to be protected.