Katie Lou Samuelson Is Back in a Storm Uniform, and This Time She's Staying Put

The Seattle Storm just brought back one of the sharpest shooters in the WNBA, and for the first time in her career, Katie Lou Samuelson is getting a real shot at stability. The 28-year-old forward signed with Seattle on Sunday after missing all of last season rehabbing a torn ACL in her right knee. This is her second stint with the Storm, but it feels different. She actually wants to be here for the long haul.

"I have had quite the career where I've never been able to be in a spot for multiple years," Samuelson said during an exit interview in September. "I would love some consistency. I would love to be here." That's the sound of a player who's tired of moving around.

The Long and Winding Road

Samuelson has been one of the most traded players since the Storm drafted her and brought her to the league. Since being taken No. 4 overall by Chicago in 2019, the former Connecticut Huskies star has played for five different teams in five seasons. She's been to Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Indiana, and back to Seattle again. The Storm acquired her in 2021 by sending the No. 1 overall pick to the Dallas Wings. In 2022, Seattle flipped her and the No. 9 pick to the Los Angeles Sparks for forward Gabby Williams. She sat out 2023 for maternity leave, played for the Indiana Fever in 2024, and then rejoined the Storm last year only to go down in training camp with her first major injury.

But here's what matters: during her 2021 season in Seattle, Samuelson averaged 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 35.1% from three-pointers and starting 24 of 27 games. That's the kind of floor spacing and length this Storm team needs.

All the Support She Needs

General manager Talisa Rhea made it clear the organization has her back. "Lou brings length, versatility and the ability to stretch the floor, all extremely valuable skill sets for our team," Rhea said. "She has attacked her recovery and rehab with determination and focus on returning to play at a high level."

Samuelson herself expressed gratitude for how the Storm handled her injury. "This organization has been amazing from the day I got injured, about having my back and just seeing me through this process," she said. "Having that support and knowing there's people that are just in your corner, I'm forever grateful for that."

The Storm currently have eight players on the roster and can carry 11 to 12 total. They've got four picks coming in Monday's draft, including two in the first round (Nos. 3 and 14 overall). Samuelson's return adds firepower to a team that's building something this season.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.