University of Connecticut Athletics
Mühl Named Nancy Lieberman Award Finalist
2/27/2023 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn women's basketball junior Nika Mühl was selected as one of five candidates for the 2023 Nancy Lieberman Award, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Monday.
Now in its 24th year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Mühl has stepped up as a junior and UConn's primary point guard this season. She currently ranks second nationally with 7.9 assists per game and 229 total assists.
The Zagreb, Croatia, native is just three assists from setting the UConn single-season assists record. Sue Bird currently holds the record with 231 in 2001-02. Mühl set the UConn single-game record with 15 assists vs. NC State on Nov. 20. She also leads the Huskies with 32 steals.
Mühl has dished out double-digit assists in nine games this season. No previous Husky has more than three double-digit performances in one season.
Mühl is just the sixth Husky all-time with 200 assists in a season, joining Bird, Crystal Dangerfield (2018-19), Jennifer Rizzotti (1995-96), Diana Taurasi (2001-02) and Moriah Jefferson (2015-16).
Mühl is also averaging career highs with 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Fan voting for the Nancy Lieberman award will open on Friday, March 3.
Five Huskies have won the Nancy Lieberman Award a total of nine times: Sue Bird (2000, '01, '02), Diana Taurasi (2003, '04), Renee Montgomery (2009), Moriah Jefferson (2015, '16) and Paige Bueckers (2021).
