Storm forward Katie Lou Samuelson out for 2025 season with torn ACL
By Christan Braswell, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - Following today’s training camp session ahead of their first preseason game of 2025, our Seattle Storm announced that veteran forward Katie Lou Samuelson suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during practice on Thursday, May 1st and is expected to miss the 2025 WNBA season. It’s a brutal break for Samuelson, who seemed primed to make the Storm roster this year after signing in the offseason on an unprotected contract. This year would’ve been Katie Lou’s second stint with Seattle after playing with the franchise in 2021.
The 6’3’’ forward is the third Storm player to suffer an ACL injury before the 2025 season officially begins. Back in October, guard Nika Mühl tore her ACL and meniscus in her left knee while playing overseas for Beşiktaş J.K. in Turkey.
In February, Storm wing Jordan Horston tore her ACL while playing in Athletes Unlimited in Nashville.
Samuelson, who would’ve entered his sixth season in the WNBA, returned to Seattle on a one-year deal in free agency as previously mentioned. She ended up with the Storm due to her and the Indiana Fever mutually agreeing to part ways back in February. She missed all of 2023 due to maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter Aliya and returned last season, playing in 37 games while averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds with Indiana.
“Going into this offseason was a bit of change that I wasn’t really expecting. But once going into free agency I really wanted to go somewhere where I felt comfortable going into. I felt like Seattle and talking to (Quinn) gave me that comfort knowing I can come back here and have a chance to play and contribute in a way that has opportunity and a chance to win a lot of games... I’m happy to be back. It feels nice to be here.”
During her first stint (2021) with the Storm, Samuelson averaged seven points, 3.5 rebounds and 20.6 minutes while starting 24 out of 27 games with a Seattle team that eventually lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Mercury. During that 2021 campaign, Katie Lou shot 45.6% from the field and 35.1% on three-pointers which were both career high marks. The following offseason, the Storm traded Samuelson and its number nine overall pick in the 2022 draft to the Los Angeles Sparks for Gabby Williams. During that 2022 season with the Sparks, Samuelson had a great year as she averaged a career-high 9.7 points and three rebounds.
When speaking to reporters during media day, Samuelson was one of several players who expressed a sense of belonging within Seattle’s veteran-laden group, where All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins lead the pack.
“The veteran presence here is clear in a way every day. We all bring ourselves in, and everyone’s doing what they need to do, and with such a big group of players who’ve been in the league so long, it’s easy for rookies and the younger ones to follow. So, I feel like it’s just been smooth.”
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Cover photo from the Seattle Storm
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