Katie Lou Samuelson became the 35th player to be announced for the Unrivaled league. Samuelson was born on June 13, 1997, in Fullerton, California. Her father, Jon, played basketball at Cal State Fullerton and professionally in Europe, while her mother, Karen, was an English netball player. As you can see, Samuelson was blessed with a basketball-oriented family that helped hone her skills at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. At Mater Dei, she set single-season records for points per game with 29.2, field goal percentage with 62.0%, free throw percentage with 89.4%, and three-pointers made with 117. Her exceptional performance earned her the 2015 Gatorade National Player of the Year award. After shattering records at Mater Dei, she continued her basketball journey by attending the University of Connecticut, where she would play from the year 2015 to 2019.
As a freshman, she contributed to UConn’s undefeated 38-0 season, culminating in a national championship, and was named the National Freshman of the Year by ESPNw. Her collegiate career would continue to elevate in glory as she amassed 2,342 points, ranking fifth in UConn’s history, and made 382 three-pointers, placing her second in that category. Samuelson’s accolades didn’t stop there because she was also a two-time Associated Press First Team All-American and a two-time American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018. In the 2019 WNBA Draft, Samuelson was selected fourth overall by the Chicago Sky.
Over her professional career, she has played for multiple teams, including the Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, and currently, the Indiana Fever. Her versatility and sharpshooting have been evident, with a career-high average of 9.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game during the 2022 season with the Sparks. In 2024, as a member of the Indiana Fever, Samuelson averaged 4.3 points, 1.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. Samuelson’s playing style is a beautiful fit for the 3v3 format the Unrivaled League provides. She’s a 6-foot-3 forward who can shoot the three exceptionally well.
Samuelson also can dish the ball with her excellent court vision and versatility. Aside from her on-court achievements and value, Samuelson has demonstrated a commitment to the development of women’s basketball. She serves as the director of player development for the Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball program, contributing her experience and knowledge to the next generation of players and with her involvement with this new Unrivaled league, she’s continuing to reflect her dedication when it comes to advancing the sport.
