Early life and college
An Orange County native, Samuelson is the second of three daughters of two former athletes, her father having played basketball in both Cal State Fullerton and England, where he met her mother, a former netball player who reached the England national team. [2] During her high school years, Samuelson played at Huntington Beach's Edison and Mater Dei High School, in Santa Ana before heading off to play in college at Stanford University alongside older sister Bonnie. Samuelson played from 2013 to 2017, while also graduating in human biology. Samuelson, who excelled as a three-point shooter, qualified twice for the NCAA final Four, in her freshman year of 2013, and later as a senior in 2017, where she had been a Regional All-Tournament Team before losing the semifinal with a sprained ankle. [3] [4]
Professional career
She went undrafted in the 2017 WNBA draft, [5] and joined the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2017 season and played 3 pre-season games, but a fractured left foot suffered during training camp led the team to waive her. Samuelson then joined Pallacanestro Vigarano in Italy's Serie A1 for her first professional season. [6] Samuelson left in January, having played 13 games for Vigarano, [7] alleging personal reasons. [8] Afterwards, she became an assistant coach for the Vanguard Lions, while pursuing a master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine, [9] and also re-signed with the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2018 WNBA season where she made the final roster. Samuelson made her WNBA debut on the 20th of May against the Minnesota Lynx scoring 3 points in 13 minutes of playing time, and ultimately appeared in 20 games of the 2018 season and 2 playoff games, averaging 4.2 minutes per game. While Samuelson left after four games due to the return of starter Jantel Lavender, the Sparks eventually brought her back for the rest of the season in June. [10] Following the Sparks' elimination in the playoffs, Samuelson signed to play in BC Castors Braine of Belgium during the offseason. [11] In Belgium, she averaged 16 points per game in the national league, and 9.7 in the Euroleague. After being waived during the Sparks training camp, [12] Samuelson joined them late in the 2019 WNBA season, following her performance in the EuroBasket Women 2019. [13] In August 2019, she joined the Dallas Wings. [14] Samuelson also signed to play in Spain for Perfumerías Avenida. [15] In 2020, Samuelson was renewed by the Wings, which also signed younger sister Katie Lou Samuelson, [16] but wound up waived before the season begun. [17] Katie and Karlie still wound up playing together for Avenida by the end of the year. [18] Karlie signed again with the Sparks in 2021. [19] After being released in August, [20] she rejoined Katie in the Seattle Storm. [21] In May 2022, the Phoenix Mercury signed Samuelson to a hardship contract. [22] The following month, she signed with Australian team Townsville Fire. [23] Back in the Sparks for the 2023 WNBA season, Samuelson had her most productive season yet, playing 34 games and ranking sixth among the league's 3-point shooters with an 42.6% average. [24]
Samuelson signed with the London Lions ahead of the 2023–24 season. [25] During the 2023–24 EuroCup Women, Samuelson was chosen as the tournament's top player for February 2024 by leading the Lions in their quarterfinals victory over Melikgazi Kayseri scoring 44 points and shooting almost 63 percent in both games. [26] The Lions would then reach the tournament final against Beşiktaş JK, [27] and along with the title, Samuelson was chosen as Finals MVP for averaging 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and an efficiency of 17.0 across both games of the decision. [28]
Prior to the 2024 WNBA season, Samuelson signed with the Washington Mystics. It was her overall 18th WNBA contract, and the first that encompassed a whole season. [29]
Samuelson also appeared as herself in an episode of kids show Ryan's Mystery Playdate .
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