Veteran guard Katie Lou Samuelson has made her long-awaited return to the Seattle Storm, stepping back onto the court on May 27 after waiting more than 600 days between WNBA games. The lengthy gap underscored just how far she had to come to get back to playing.
Samuelson signed with Seattle last February, but her season did not go as planned. She missed all of the 2025 season after she tore her ACL during the first week of training camp the previous year, an injury that sidelined her for the entire campaign.
Now in her eighth season in the WNBA, she is gradually working her way back into the Storm lineup. She is currently averaging 15.5 minutes per game as she eases back into competition.
Her return has come at a difficult stretch for the team, with Seattle losing three straight games. Rather than dwell on the results, Samuelson has chosen to focus on what she can control, centering her attention on her own mindset.
She described her approach as one of patience and self-compassion as she rebuilds her form. She said she is giving herself grace as she continues to get back and pushes herself to be uncomfortable in situations and build on it, adding that she is really grateful for every day she gets to play.
This is not the first time Samuelson has had to fight her way back to the court. She also missed the 2023 season after the birth of her daughter, Aaliyah, who now supports her mother from the sidelines, making this her second major comeback in a few short years.