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Seattle Storm's Nika Muhl indicated her support for Paige Bueckers to return the UConn basketball star's favor as her 'hype woman' in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Bueckers took to Instagram to share snaps of herself as a 'hype woman' for the draft prospects.
Muhl, selected 14th overall by the Seattle Storm, commented her promise to hype Paige Bueckers in next year's hype in which Bueckers is expected to be a prospect.
"5th slide is me next year 😏," Muhl commented.
Nika Muhl's comment refers to the fifth snap in the carousel post uploaded by Bueckers, which features the UConn star clicking photos of the moment, when Muhl was picked by the Seattle Storm in the 2024 WNBA draft.
"My hype woman era✨," Paige captioned her post.
Nika Muhl and Paige Bueckers were teammates on the University of Connecticut's basketball team and are very close friends. After clinching the title in the Big East Tournament in March 2024, Muhl opened up about her friendship with Bueckers.
"I'm just so grateful and thankful to the universe that I was able to get out and come across a person like that. I mean thankful to coach for recruiting us at the same time and bringing us here. That's my best friend, my sister," Nika Muhl said.
Muhl added:
"She's been holding me down since the start and, you know, people see us laugh, people see us joke, you know, it's always fun with us but behind the scenes that's my ride or die and that's my best friend that I can always rely on and call and talk to and I know she'll always be there for me.
"On the court stuff, all that is great, I enjoy it so much but it's off the court, the fact that I know in thirty years she's still going to be my best friend. I love her so much."
Paige Bueckers is the frontrunner for No. 1 pick in 2025 WNBA draft
According to early indications, the UConn Huskies' star player is the frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. Bueckers could have challenged Caitlin Clark for this year's No. 1 spot, had it not been for injuries throughout her college career.
"She's definitely the frontrunner, so to speak," 247Sports expert contributor Brandon Clay said. "There's much to admire about her game. She's a favorite for National Player of the Year and the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft."
Paige Bueckers has been very efficient in the past season, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 53% from the field. She also boasts two Big East Player of the Year awards (2021, 2024), along with one Naismith Player of the Year award (2021).
Bueckers is expected to declare for next year's draft as she heads into her fifth year at the University of Connecticut.
