It doesn’t matter whether you have been teammates for a month, year, or better part of a decade, as long as you are teammates, some banter is likely to follow. Just like it did between Katie Lou Samuelson and Caitlin Clark when she asked the #22 guard to babysit for her right after Clark scored her triple-double of the season. But, it is not just limited to this. With the Indiana Fever bridging in Caitlin Clark and Katie Lou Samuelson together, she moves on to share her skill sets with the team. The two have developed a strong chemistry, with Clark praising Samuelson’s leadership and versatility in the game.

Though Clark has gained significant notice for scoring, Samuelson is no less impressive on the hardwood. At UConn, she scored 2342 points and 382 three-pointers. Even her WNBA career has made her an invaluable player with fairly good averages, something that has contributed to each team’s success. Let’s dive deeper into the life of this hooping star.

Katie Lou Samuelson’s basketball journey

Katie Lou Samuelson started her basketball career at Mater Dei High School in Southern California and it was not long before she turned out to be a standout player, bagging the 2014 California Player of the Year award. Following a tremendous, sensational high school career as she helped her team win the third consecutive Trinity League championship, she gained a scholarship at the University of Connecticut, one of the best programs on the women’s college map.

To UConn, Samuelson was a pivotal player, leading to multiple NCAA championships, so much so that she was named the 2016 National Freshman of the Year by ESPNw. It was her long-range shots and versatility overall that made her a key player for the Huskies. This is why she also sits at the top of the NCAA single-game record for most three-pointers made without a miss, with 10.

Following a brilliant college career, the Chicago Sky chose Samuelson at number four in the WNBA Draft of 2019. Her professional career took her to go for a few teams, including the Dallas Wings, the Seattle Storm, and more recently, the Los Angeles Sparks. In all of her years in the WNBA, the sharpshooter was recognized especially for her accuracy, particularly from beyond the arc. Her career path has been one of steady improvement and adaptability.

After sitting out the entire 2023 season due to her pregnancy, Samuelson signed with Indiana Fever before the 2024 WNBA season. The Fever record currently stands at 11-15, which has come a long way since the last few games. Clark has had multiple high-point games, such as 22 points against the New York Liberty and 21 against the Seattle Storm. Supplementing that is the fact that Samuelson has played an appreciable number of minutes, during which she contributed both offensively and defensively. But, has she kept up with the same performance internationally?

International Career and Personal Life

Katie Lou Samuelson has made an impact not only in the WNBA but also on the international level. Going through the USA Basketball programs from an early age, she has been involved in most of the age-group competitions and contributed to team success. She has played as well for huge clubs like Perfumerías Avenida in Spain. Additionally, Samuelson played for the United States under-17 teams and won the 2013 FIBA Americas U-16 competition and the subsequent 2014 FIBA U-17 World Championship.

What has also shaped her career path is the personal life and background of Samuelson. Born on June 13, 1997, in Fullerton, California, she grew up within a family that was very orientated toward basketball. Her elder sister, Karlie, and her younger sister, Bonnie, played competitive basketball as well. Further, she is married to a hooper Devin Cannady with whom, she recently had a daughter.

After missing out on her last Olympic gig in 2020 in Tokyo because she was suffering from COVID, she looks forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics hoping to deliver a stellar performance. Will she be able to record a stellar performance? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.