Poll - Will Nika make a WNBA roster? | The Boneyard

Poll - Will Nika make a WNBA roster?

Will Nika succeed in making a WNBA roster?

  • Yes

    Votes: 78 58.2%

  • No

    Votes: 56 41.8%
  • Total voters
    134
Status
Not open for further replies.
sun

sun

Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
2,518
Reaction Score
6,601
Will Nika make a WNBA roster?
And simply being drafted & invited to training camp doesn't count.
Round & round it goes, where it will stop nobody knows....but take a stab at it anyway!
 
I think she’ll make one… eventually. She may not get drafted, and she may spend a few years in one or another European league. But her skill set will evolve. What will translate to the W or any pro league is her ferocity. Not a lot players have that.
 
Bone Dog said:
I think she’ll make one… eventually. She may not get drafted, and she may spend a few years in one or another European league. But her skill set will evolve. What will translate to the W or any pro league is her ferocity. Not a lot players have that.
Expand ...

She will be a very popular role player who will play as long as her fouls allow. Part of pro ball is entertainment, and Muhl will entertain with her furrowed brow and that stare.
 
.-.
I voted "Yes". What Nika brings to a team is unmeasurable. Jerry West said it best back in the early 2000 range when asked about what he saw in Kobe that the other 12 GMs didn't see, and he said he same thing about Curry, when folks were saying how Curry was too small, too weak and not going to last long in the league. Jerry West said "I am looking at the heart of a player. A player who might lack speed, lack a certain level of skill set but they have the heart of a lion" That describes Nika to the fullest.
 
She's a big physical guard who defends well and is a strong passer. She'll likely get a roster spot, but whether she sticks long term I'm not sold on. I think she compares favorably to Westbrook/Chong and both of them made rosters.
 
Wow! Excellent question I haven't even considered. :eek:

Nika has been a pleasant surprise for UConn. Especially, considering the class she came in with. Totally overlooked and undervalued by so many people, other than the Coaches.:rolleyes:

Personally, I would go home and make more money and punish players in international play and in the Olympics. :)
 
I voted yes, but who knows if that's even a goal of hers? She'll be a great European league player if she doesn't opt for the WNBA.
 
JellyBean said:
I voted "Yes". What Nika brings to a team is unmeasurable. Jerry West said it best back in the early 2000 range when asked about what he saw in Kobe that the other 12 GMs didn't see, and he said he same thing about Curry, when folks were saying how Curry was too small, too weak and not going to last long in the league. Jerry West said "I am looking at the heart of a player. A player who might lack speed, lack a certain level of skill set but they have the heart of a lion" That describes Nika to the fullest.
Expand ...
Bryant, Curry, Muhl... interesting point.
 
.-.
I vote Yes. What Nika would bring to any team that would draft her is the heart of a lion and a diamond in the rough. She was raw when she came to Uconn and developed herself into a premier player. Nika would do the same in the WNBA and will develop to WNBA standards of play, because NIKA is NIKA. GO NILA!!! GO HUSKIES!!!
 
I love Nika. But IF (and for me that's a big IF) she makes a roster and sticks, she'll have to continue her offensive scoring production. I hope she does of course.
 
Not initially.

As a denizen of the WNBA thread on the General Board, I'm used to seeing how point guards who did well in the NCAA have a hard time finding a lasting roster spot in the W, rightly or wrongly. Some who have bounced around are now getting minutes, including UConn's own MoJeff to ND's Lindsay Allen, both of who were well-trained. Others, like Evina Westbrook, are still trying to find a spot. We've been over the reasons multiple times, but the player needs to keep working on her game.

Nika's tough as nails, defends well and keeps the ball moving to key players. However, she's got to become a viable, consistent offensive threat from mid- and long-range to snag a spot. If she has it, but hasn't been showing it, well maybe sooner rather than later.

Realistically, I could see her being like Ivana Dojkić -- spend a few years overseas, then come back. By that time, there might also be more openings with expansion.
 
Because of the limited number or teams in the WNBA it is a challenge for anyone to make a roster as a rookie if they are not considered a top 5 prospect at their position. There are a lot of young(er) guards in the league at present, so I don't know if there will be room for Nika to be honest. I see her style of play fitting better in Europe and I think that she will make her mark there rather than in the WNBA.

However, if the right WNBA team has an opening and their coaching staff and management are really interested in UCONN as a source for players because of their pedigree and preparation, she will have a great shot at proving me wrong.
 
.-.
As a starter or off the bench Nika is a "glue" player who doesn't tend to score a lot, but does other things very well (pass, defend). Given the limited number of spots available, I don't think her athleticism and lengtrh are at a level to make a W roster long term. Her tenacity, intensity and UConn pedigree (yes, that matters for coaches and GM's) may give her a spot initially in her rookie year, but like Kelly Faris, that can only take you so far. I voted "no" because although she has a shot to stick initially, the W might be the hardest pro league to get established in.

Nika's proven a lot of people wrong in her time at UConn and I'm hoping she does it in the W also. This might be a better poll at mid-season because a lot will depend on her role this season and any development she's managed to improve her game.
 
Dillon77 said:
Not initially.

As a denizen of the WNBA thread on the General Board, I'm used to seeing how point guards who did well in the NCAA have a hard time finding a lasting roster spot in the W, rightly or wrongly. Some who have bounced around are now getting minutes, including UConn's own MoJeff to ND's Lindsay Allen, both of who were well-trained. Others, like Evina Westbrook, are still trying to find a spot. We've been over the reasons multiple times, but the player needs to keep working on her game.
Expand ...

You might have added Crystal Dangerfield to this list, although she now appears to have found a home in Dallas. And MoJeff seems to have found a home in Phoenix, albeit for a bad team. Another example is Natisha Hiedeman of Marquette, who has certainly found a home with the Connecticut Sun. But all of them struggled to stay on a roster at first.

Nika is bigger than most of these players (a key attribute) and more rugged, although not as quick or fast. If she tried to guard any of those named above, she would have a hard time keeping them in front of her. But many slightly slow players with other skills have managed to prosper in the WNBA -- I'm thinking especially of Katy Douglas, although she was never a point guard.
Dillon77 said:
Nika's tough as nails, defends well and keeps the ball moving to key players. However, she's got to become a viable, consistent offensive threat from mid- and long-range to snag a spot. If she has it, but hasn't been showing it, well maybe sooner rather than later.

Realistically, I could see her being like Ivana Dojkić -- spend a few years overseas, then come back. By that time, there might also be more openings with expansion.
Expand ...
I like the Dojkic comparison -- maybe there is a prototype of a Croatian PG that they both adhere to. Dojkic is strong, fit, cool under pressure, and she can shoot, but she has trouble guarding quick opponents. Nonetheless, she is prospering in the league, and I think Nika can do the same.
 
I'm not sure, but like a couple people mentioned, why would she want to? She can go home (or closer to home), play in the right season, make more money. Not have to put up with the silly WNBA rules.

But if she wants, I'm not sure she shoots well enough (or shoots enough) for the WNBA. Although she can play defense and run an offense. So with the right team, I think she can. But it would have to be the right team. Guess depends on who drafts her.
 
While she is amazing for UConn, i don't see her current skills set as sufficient to make a roster in the WNBA. You can think off a lot of players who were stars in college who didn't make it to the WNBA. Nika is a great defender and passer but must have a reliable offensive game to have a real shot at the WNBA.
 
She could make a W roster but my gut thinks she will have her pro career primarily overseas. If she shows she can be a consistent scoring threat while still at UConn then her W prospects go up. Seeing as she hails from Europe, she might actually prefer playing closer to home.
 
I'd love to see it but realistically she's got to improve her offensive game to make it at WNBA level
 
.-.
Ozimoto said:
Because of the limited number or teams in the WNBA it is a challenge for anyone to make a roster as a rookie if they are not considered a top 5 prospect at their position. There are a lot of young(er) guards in the league at present, so I don't know if there will be room for Nika to be honest. I see her style of play fitting better in Europe and I think that she will make her mark there rather than in the WNBA.

However, if the right WNBA team has an opening and their coaching staff and management are really interested in UCONN as a source for players because of their pedigree and preparation, she will have a great shot at proving me wrong.
Expand ...
Think Minnesota!
 
UCONN players have a way of being productive in the WNBA once they're drafted. Nika would have to be able to show the ability to shoot and create a shot. Their aren't a lot of good floor generals in the league. Nika would be if given the right opportunity.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20230707_135237_Instagram.jpg
    Screenshot_20230707_135237_Instagram.jpg
    437.8 KB · Views: 197
JoePgh said:
You might have added Crystal Dangerfield to this list, although she now appears to have found a home in Dallas. And MoJeff seems to have found a home in Phoenix, albeit for a bad team. Another example is Natisha Hiedeman of Marquette, who has certainly found a home with the Connecticut Sun. But all of them struggled to stay on a roster at first.

Nika is bigger than most of these players (a key attribute) and more rugged, although not as quick or fast. If she tried to guard any of those named above, she would have a hard time keeping them in front of her. But many slightly slow players with other skills have managed to prosper in the WNBA -- I'm thinking especially of Katy Douglas, although she was never a point guard.

I like the Dojkic comparison -- maybe there is a prototype of a Croatian PG that they both adhere to. Dojkic is strong, fit, cool under pressure, and she can shoot, but she has trouble guarding quick opponents. Nonetheless, she is prospering in the league, and I think Nika can do the same.
Expand ...

Dojkic and Muhl seems like pretty different guards to me. Dojkic does not nearly exert as much effort on defense and prefers to slash out of iso sets. She can pass, but is pretty much always looking for her own shot. When there was a rumor that Breanna Stewart would be her teammate in Italy, I joked that I was looking forward to Dojkic still taking all the shots. Croatia is definitely looking to be able to field both as well as Karla Erjavec, who just finished at Miami, as they all have different playmaking styles.

In trying to do whatever fits the team's needs, I think how well Nika can run a heavy pick and roll based offense has fallen under the radar. A team looking for a backup point guard who can do that might find that she has less of a learning curve than other rookies. Given the range where Nika is likely to be picked, fit and an actual unclaimed roster spot are the most important things.
 
WNBA is too competitive. Need to be a very good perimeter shooter or be able to create your own shot. Nika has shown neither skill consistently. I don't think she rates highly with her speed, quickness and size against WNBA opposing guards.

she is a good, creative passer that will be valued. Just don't think that's enough to get drafted. She'll get a lot more playing time in the Euro league.
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,547
Messages
4,581,787
Members
10,491
Latest member
7774Forever


Top Bottom