Career
Basketball
Nykiel played for the national team between 1979 and 1990, competing at two Olympic Games. 1984 and 1988. Nykiel also represented Australia at three World Championships - 1979, 1983 and 1986. In the domestic competition, Nykiel was the Women"s National Basketball League (WNBL) Most Valuable Player in 1984 and 1988.
Nykiel led the WNBL in points scored on 5 occasions.
1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1988. In 2006, Nykiel polled as the 7th greatest Australian female basketball player in the 25-year team
Nykiel is also recognised as one of the leading players in WNBL history. Nykiel was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Netball
Following her retirement from basketball in 1990, Nykiel went on to a successful career in South Australian netball as a Goal Shooter, playing in a number of state league netball Grand Finals.