Storm reunite with sharpshooter Katie Lou Samuelson on 1-year deal

Percy Allen, The Seattle Times on Feb 20, 2025

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SEATTLE — Katie Lou Samuelson is on the move again, and this time the long-range sharpshooter is headed back to Seattle.

The Storm agreed to a one-year deal with Samuelson, her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Since being taken No. 4 overall in the 2019 WNBA draft by Chicago, the former Connecticut Huskies star has played with five teams over the past five seasons; she sat out 2023 due to maternity leave.

Samuelson, a 6-foot-3 forward, is one of the most traded WNBA players since entering the league.

In 2020, the Sky dealt her and their 2021 first-round pick for Azura Stevens.

In 2021, the Storm acquired Samuelson and a 2022 second-round pick in a deal that sent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft to the Dallas Wings.

In 2022, Seattle traded Samuelson and its No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft to the Los Angeles Sparks for forward Gabby Williams.

After giving birth to daughter Aliya in August 2023, Samuelson returned to the WNBA in 2024 and signed a two-year, $355,000 contract with the Indiana Fever. She earned $175,000 last year and was slated to make $180,000 in 2025 before agreeing to a buyout worth $106,419, according to Her Hoops Stats.

During her stint with the Storm, Samuelson averaged 7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 20.6 minutes.

Last year, Samuelson averaged 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 34.9% on field goals and 33% on 3-pointers. She started 15 of 37 games early in the season, but she averaged just 18.2 minutes — her lowest since her rookie year — and moved to the bench while the Fever favored Kristi Wallace and Lexi Hull.

The 27-year-old Samuelson fills a void on the Storm roster created when third-year forward Jordan Horston suffered an ACL injury two weeks ago that will sideline her for the 2025 season.

Considering the need for perimeter scoring, it’s possible — albeit unlikely — Samuelson cracks Seattle’s starting lineup that includes returners Skylar Diggins-Smith, Nneka Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor and Williams.

It also remains to be seen how Samuelson might fit among a reserve corps that potentially includes new additions Lexi Brown, Alysha Clark, Erica Wheeler and Li Yueru.

The Storm have four picks (Nos. 2, 21, 29 and 34) in April’s WNBA draft.