.jpg) Samuelson in 2024 playing for theIndiana Fever | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 33 – Seattle Storm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Small forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | WNBA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1997-06-13)June 13, 1997 (age 27) Fullerton, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 163 lb (74 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | UConn (2015–2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WNBA draft | 2019: 1st round, 4th overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Chicago Sky | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2019–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Chicago Sky | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Flammes Carolo Basket | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Dallas Wings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | CB Avenida | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Seattle Storm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Los Angeles Sparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Indiana Fever | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025–present | Phantom BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025–present | Seattle Storm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at WNBA.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Katie Lou Samuelson (born June 13, 1997) is an American professionalbasketball player basketball player for theSeattle Storm of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She playedcollege basketball for theUConn Huskies. Samuelson is also the director of player development for theVanderbilt Commodores women's basketball program.[1]
Samuelson played for theMater Dei High School basketball team for three seasons. As a sophomore in 2012–13, she averaged 20.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and helped Mater Dei to a 30–2 record. The following season, Samuelson averaged 29.2[2] points and 9.4 rebounds. She was named the 2014 California Player of the Year and was a USA Today first-team All-American. As a senior, Samuelson averaged 24.9 points and 8.5 rebounds. She helped Mater Dei win their third consecutiveTrinity League championship and the 2015 state regional championship; the team finished 31–3. Following the 2014–15 season, Samuelson was named the national player of the year by Gatorade, USA Today, McDonald's, and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, won the Naismith Trophy, and made the consensus All-American first team. During her high school career, she set Mater Dei single-season records for points average (29.2), field goal percentage (62.0), free throw percentage (89.4), free throws made (178), free throws attempted (211), and three-pointers made (117).[3]
Samuelson was a freshman at theUniversity of Connecticut in 2015–16. She played in 37 of the Huskies' 38 games, including 22 starts. She missed the national championship game due to an injury. During the season, Samuelson scored 11.0 points per game and led the team with 78 made three-pointers, which was the second-most ever by a Connecticut freshman. She scored a season-high 22 points against Robert Morris on March 19. Samuelson was named the 2016 national freshman of the year by ESPNw. She was also named to theAmerican Athletic Conference all-freshman team and the AAC all-tournament team.[3]
In 2016–17, Samuelson started in all 37 of the Huskies' games. Her 20.2 points per game and 42.0 three-point field goal percentage both ranked second in the AAC. Her 119 made three-pointers that season was the second-highest in school history. On March 6, 2017, Samuelson scored a career-high 40 points against USF; she also set the NCAA single-game record for most three-pointers made without a miss, with 10. She was named the 2017 AAC co-player of the year and the AAC tournament most outstanding player. She was also selected as a first team All-American by the AP, WBCA, and USBWA, and made the AAC first team.[3]
On January 13, 2019, Samuelson surpassed the 2,000 career point mark in a win overSouth Florida. She became the tenth UConn player to achieve this milestone.[4]
Samuelson was part of theUnited States under-17 team who won the 2013FIBA Americas U-16 Championship and subsequent2014 FIBA U-17 World Championship.[5] Samuelson was part of theUnited States women's national 3x3 team that would compete in theinaugural Olympic tournament at the2020 Summer Olympics, but wound up off the team as she contractedCOVID-19 just prior to the start of the games.[6] Samuelson returned to the team in the2023 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup.[7]
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Samuelson was drafted 4th overall by theChicago Sky in the2019 WNBA draft, with whom she spent her rookie season. Across 20 games, she averaged 2.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.4 assists during 7.7 minutes per game.
Samuelson was traded to theDallas Wings forAzura Stevens on February 14, 2020, making Katie Lou and her sisterKarlie teammates for the first time as professionals.[8] However, Karlie was waived before the season began. The sisters still wound up playing together in Spain as Samuelson signed with Karlie's teamPerfumerías Avenida. Samuelson helped Avenida winthe Spanish championship and finish second in the continentalEuroLeague, being listed on the team of the tournament in both championships.[9][10]
Samuelson was traded on February 10, 2021, to theSeattle Storm for the number one overall pick in the2021 WNBA draft, who becameCharli Collier.[11] While with Seattle, Samuelson became a full-time starter for the first time in her career, having started 24 of the 27 games she played for them while averaging career highs of 7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Katie's sister Karlie later joined the Storm and played three games with them in August and September 2021.[12]
Her tenure with the Storm ended on February 3, 2022, when she and the2022 WNBA draft ninth pick were traded to theLos Angeles Sparks in exchange forGabby Williams. Samuelson was a teammate with Williams for three years at UConn and both women were selected fourth overall by the Chicago Sky in consecutive years, Williams having been picked in 2018.[13]
After not playing the2023 season due to her pregnancy,[14] Samuelson signed with theIndiana Fever prior to the2024 WNBA season on February 1, 2024.[15]
On February 10, 2025, Summuelson was waived by the Fever and signed a mutual contract termination agreement with the team.[16][17]
On December 20, 2024, it was announced that Samuelson had signed withPhantom BC (filling their wildcard spot) for theinaugural 2025 season ofUnrivaled, the women’s 3-on-3 basketball league founded byNapheesa Collier andBreanna Stewart.[18]
On February 21, 2025, Samuelson signed with the Seattle Storm for a one-year deal,[19][20] returning to the franchise after four years.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field goal percentage |
| 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game |
| SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | TO | Turnovers per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Bold | Career high | * | Led Division I |
| * | Denotes season(s) in which Samuelson won anNCAA Championship |
Stats current through end of 2024 regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Chicago | 20 | 0 | 7.6 | .316 | .276 | .800 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
| 2020 | Dallas | 22 | 4 | 20.0 | .417 | .317 | .733 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 5.0 |
| 2021 | Seattle | 27 | 24 | 21.0 | .456 | .351 | .731 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 7.0 |
| 2022 | Los Angeles | 32 | 29 | 29.5 | .373 | .352 | .837 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 9.7 |
| 2023 | Did not play (maternity leave) | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | Indiana | 37 | 15 | 18.2 | .349 | .330 | .960 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 4.3 |
| Career | 5 years, 5 teams | 138 | 72 | 20.1 | .389 | .336 | .822 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 5.9 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Chicago | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | Seattle | 1 | 1 | 35.0 | .600 | .667 | 1.000 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 18.0 |
| 2024 | Indiana | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | .000 | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Career | 3 years, 3 teams | 4 | 1 | 11.0 | .545 | .667 | 1.000 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 4.5 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16* | Connecticut | 37 | 22 | 23.5 | .493 | .394 | .837 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 11.0 |
| 2016–17 | Connecticut | 37 | 37 | 32.1 | .486 | .420 | .840 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 20.2 |
| 2017–18 | Connecticut | 32 | 32 | 29.7 | .530 | .475* | .835 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 17.4 |
| 2018–19 | Connecticut | 34 | 34 | 33.1 | .453 | .376 | .876 | 6.3 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 18.5 |
| Career | 140 | 125 | 29.6 | .491 | .416 | .847 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 16.8 |
Samuelson was born inFullerton, California. Her father Jon played basketball atCal State Fullerton and professionally in Europe. Her mother Karen was anetball player from England. Katie Lou has two older sisters who both played at Stanford: Bonnie, who after college decided to instead studyoptometry; andKarlie, who has played in the WNBA and currently plays for theWashington Mystics.[3][23]
She became engaged to fellow basketball playerDevin Cannady on February 4, 2022; they got married on April 22, 2023. Samuelson revealed on February 10, 2023, via Instagram that she and Cannady were expecting a baby,[24] and their daughter was born on August 4.[25]
In February 2024, Samuelson joined the WNBA Changemakers Collective and their collaboration with VOICEINSPORT (VIS) as a mentor, "aimed at keeping girls in sport and developing diverse leaders on the court and beyond the game."[26][27]
Katie Lou Samuelson signed a Contract Amendment - Mutual Termination with the Indiana Fever." "Katie Lou Samuelson was waived by the Indiana Fever.
The 6-foot-3 forward will hit the wire for five days, then becomes a free agent.
The Seattle Storm today signed forward Katie Lou Samuelson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Storm agreed to a one-year deal with Samuelson, her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told The Associated Press on Thursday.
and Basketball Reference 
Media related toKatie Lou Samuelson at Wikimedia Commons
