The Seattle Storm added Katie Lou Samuelson this offseason, hoping that the veteran forward’s experience and versatility would complement a talented group of players in Washington.
It has been less than two months since Samuelson signed with the Storm, and the 27-year-old has suffered a major injury setback that will likely see her miss the entire 2025 season. The news comes just two weeks before Seattle’s regular season opener against the Phoenix Mercury on May 17 and will be devastating for Samuelson and the Storm’s loyal fanbase.
Storm Confirm That Samuelson Suffered Torn ACL in Practice Session
On Saturday, Seattle announced that Samuelson had suffered a torn ACL injury in her right knee during Thursday’s practice. The average time to recover from an ACL is anywhere from six to 12 months, which makes it almost certain that Samuelson will miss the 2025 WNBA season.
After playing 14 games and averaging 11.4 minutes per game at the 3-on-3 Unrivaled basketball league between January and March, Samuelson looked fit and ready to go for the upcoming season.
Katie Lou Samuelson suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during practice on Thursday, the Seattle Storm announced.
She is expected to miss the season along with teammates Nika Muhl and Jordan Horston who also suffered torn ACLs. pic.twitter.com/2bwBSGAEsS
— espnW (@espnW)
The California native missed the entire 2023 season due to maternity leave, and she would have been hoping to make her mark with Seattle after an underwhelming 2024 season, where she averaged just 18.2 minutes per game with the Indiana Fever.
When healthy, Samuelson remains a valuable asset for any team in the league. She was an elite prospect coming out of Mater Dei High School in Southern California. After being named the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year in 2015, Samuelson committed to UConn, where she would go on to win a national championship in 2016 under legendary head coach Geno Auriemma.
In 2019, the Chicago Sky selected her with the fourth pick in the draft, hoping that she could have an instant impact in the Windy City. The following year, Samuelson was traded to the Dallas Wings, and she would go on to play for the Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, and Indiana Fever over the next four seasons.
Samuelson’s breakout season was in 2022, when she started 29 games for the Los Angeles Sparks. The 6’3″ forward excelled while playing alongside Nneka Ogwumike, Liz Cambage, and Brittney Sykes and would go on to record 9.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, and 1.9 apg.
Seattle’s Injury List Piles Up Going Into 2025 Season
After winning 25 games last season, Seattle enter the 2025 season as a team expected to contend. Unfortunately, injuries to guards Jordan Horston and Nika Muhl, along with Samuelson’s injury, leave the lineup shorthanded going into the campaign. Horston and Muhl also suffered ACL injuries during the offseason.
With three of their key players sidelined, rookie center Dominique Malonga — who was the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft — will likely take on a bigger role for Seattle this season.
