Seattle Storm forward Katie Lou Samuelson is expected to miss the upcoming Women's National Basketball Association season after suffering a torn ACL in her right knee. The injury occurred during a practice session Thursday, the team announced Saturday.
Samuelson signed with the Seattle Storm in February. She had previously played for the Storm in 2021.
The torn ACL injury is the third for the Storm this offseason. Jordan Horston tore her ACL in February while playing in the AU Pro Basketball league, and Nika Muhl suffered an ACL tear in October 2024 while playing overseas. Horston and Muhl's contracts were suspended in January.
Samuelson was the fourth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft out of UConn. Her WNBA career includes stints with the Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, Las Vegas Aces, and Indiana Fever before she signed with the Storm this year.
Over her five WNBA seasons, Samuelson has averaged 5.9 points per game. She was anticipated to be a rotation player on the Storm roster.
The Storm roster includes players such as Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams, Lexie Brown, Ezi Magbegor, Alysha Clark, and Erica Wheeler. The team also drafted Dominique Malonga as the second overall pick but she did not join the team for training camp.
The loss of Samuelson further complicates the Storm's roster picture as the team prepares for the season. This news follows a preseason that has seen multiple WNBA players suffer similar injuries, including Washington Mystics draftee Georgia Amoore, who also tore her ACL.
