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Katie Lou Samuelson

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Katie Lou Samuelson
Samuelson in 2024 playing for the Indiana Fever
No. 33 – Indiana Fever
PositionSmall forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1997-06-13) June 13, 1997 (age 27)
Fullerton, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight163 lb (74 kg)
Career information
High schoolMater Dei
(Santa Ana, California)
CollegeUConn (2015–2019)
WNBA draft2019: 1st round, 4th overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019Chicago Sky
2019Flammes Carolo Basket
2020Dallas Wings
2020–2022CB Avenida
2021Seattle Storm
2022–2023Los Angeles Sparks
2024–presentIndiana Fever
2025–presentPhantom BC
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women
Gold medal – first place 2013 Mexico Team
FIBA U17 World Championship for Women
Gold medal – first place 2014 Czech Republic Team
Women's 3x3 basketball
Representing  United States
Youth Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 China Team
Bronze medal – third place 2014 China Shoot-out

Katie Lou Samuelson (born June 13, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the UConn Huskies. Samuelson is also the director of player development for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball program.[1]

Early life

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Samuelson played for the Mater 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 consecutive Trinity 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]

College career

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Samuelson was a freshman at the University 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 the American 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 over South Florida. She became the tenth UConn player to achieve this milestone.[4]

National team career

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Samuelson was part of the United States under-17 team who won the 2013 FIBA Americas U-16 Championship and subsequent 2014 FIBA U-17 World Championship.[5] Samuelson was part of the United States women's national 3x3 team that would compete in the inaugural Olympic tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics, but wound up off the team as she contracted COVID-19 just prior to the start of the games.[6] Samuelson returned to the team in the 2023 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup.[7]

Professional career

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Samuelson playing for the Chicago Sky in 2019

Chicago Sky (2019)

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Samuelson was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2019 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.

Dallas Wings and Perfumerías Avenida (2020-2021)

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Samuelson was traded to the Dallas Wings for Azura Stevens on February 14, 2020, making Katie Lou and her sister Karlie 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 team Perfumerías Avenida. Samuelson helped Avenida win the Spanish championship and finish second in the continental EuroLeague, being listed on the team of the tournament in both championships.[9][10]

Seattle Storm (2021)

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Samuelson was traded on February 10, 2021, to the Seattle Storm for the number one overall pick in the 2021 WNBA draft, who became Charli 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]

Los Angeles Sparks (2022)

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Her tenure with the Storm ended on February 3, 2022, when she and the 2022 WNBA draft ninth pick were traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Gabby 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]

Indiana Fever (2024-present)

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Samuelson (left) speaking with teammate, NaLyssa Smith, (right) during a game in 2024

After not playing the 2023 season due to her pregnancy,[14] Samuelson signed with the Indiana Fever prior to the 2024 WNBA season on February 1, 2024.[15]

Phantom BC (2025–present)

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On December 20, 2024, it was announced that Samuelson had signed with Phantom BC (filling their wildcard spot) for the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, the women’s 3x3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.[16]

Career statistics

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Legend
  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 an NCAA Championship

WNBA

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Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 regular season

WNBA regular season statistics[17]
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

Playoffs

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WNBA playoff statistics
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

College

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NCAA statistics[18]
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

Personal life

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Samuelson was born in Fullerton, California. Her father Jon played basketball at Cal State Fullerton and professionally in Europe. Her mother Karen was a netball player from England. Katie Lou has two older sisters who both played at Stanford: Bonnie, who after college decided to instead study optometry; and Karlie, who has played in the WNBA and currently plays for the Washington Mystics.[3][19]

She became engaged to fellow basketball player Devin 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,[20] and their daughter was born on August 4.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Samuelson Joins Women's Basketball Staff". Vanderbilt University Athletics. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Team & Individual Records - Season Highlights". Mater Dei Athletics. March 30, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Katie Lou Samuelson". Uconnhuskies.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Eaton-Robb, Pat (January 13, 2019). "Samuelson reaches 2,000 points as UConn beats South Florida". The News Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "Katie Samuelson profile, FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women 2013". FIBA.COM.
  6. ^ "Katie Lou Samuelson off Tokyo Olympic 3x3 team after falling ill with COVID-19". Yahoo! Sport. July 19, 2021.
  7. ^ After chance to be a Tokyo Olympian was lost, Katie Lou Samuelson returns to chase Paris 2024
  8. ^ Putterman, Alex (February 14, 2020). "Swapping UConn players: Katie Lou Samuelson traded to Dallas Wings, in exchange for Azura Stevens". Hartford Courant. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Winners of EuroLeague Women Awards announced". FIBA. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "Quinteto ideal 2020/21: Ouviña, Grey, Hayes, Samuelson y Gatling". Federación Española de Baloncesto (in European Spanish). March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "Storm acquires Katie Lou Samuelson, Mikiah "Kiki" Herbert Harrigan; Rights to Stephanie Talbot and two 2022 draft picks". Seattle Storm.
  12. ^ "Karlie Samuelson 2021 Game Log". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. ^ Doyle, Paul (February 3, 2022). "Former UConn women's basketball stars Gabby Williams and Katie Lou Samuelson swapped in WNBA trade". CT Post. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  14. ^ Yapkowitz, David (April 11, 2023). "Los Angeles Sparks balance present and future with WNBA draft selections". The Next Hoops. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  15. ^ How UConn women's basketball alum Katie Lou Samuelson found right WNBA home in Indiana: 'Really special'
  16. ^ Glenesk, Matthew (December 20, 2024). "A third Indiana Fever player signs up to play in Unrivaled, new 3x3 offseason league". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Katie Lou Samuelson WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "Katie Lou Samuelson College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Adameccadamec@journalinquirer.com, Carl. "On, off court, Samuelson is A-plus". Journal Inquirer.
  20. ^ Vanoni, Maggie (February 10, 2023). "Former UConn women's basketball star Katie Lou Samuelson will welcome first child in August". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  21. ^ "Former UConn star Katie Lou Samuelson gives birth to baby girl". Hartford Courant. August 8, 2023.
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