The bad news doesn’t seem to stop for the Seattle Storm, as even after ending up with the league’s worst record this season, they have lost another key player from their rotation. Small Forward Katie Lou Samuelson, who has averaged 15.3 minutes for the Storm across the season, has recently been sidelined due to a season-ending injury, as the team still has four games left on the regular-season schedule.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
The Seattle Storm announced on their website that Katie Lou Samuelson would miss the remainder of the 2026 regular season due to an “arthroscopic procedure on her left knee,” which was performed on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The rotational SF’s stats for the season were also highlighted on the page. AllThingsWNBA reported the news on X. The team has not shared further information about a timeline for her to be back on court.
This won’t be the first time Samuelson has missed games in the recent past, as she also missed the whole of the 2025 season. After terminating her contract with the Indiana Fever in February 2025 through mutual agreement, she signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Storm in the same month. She then suffered an ACL tear in her right leg during practice, which spelled the end of her 2025 season.
The former University of Connecticut star then re-signed with the Storm in 2026, playing a total of 32 games with the team this regular season. Storm General Manager Talisa Rhea was full of praise for Samuelson, per a release on the Storm’s website dated April 13, 2026.
“Lou brings length, versatility, and the ability to stretch the floor, all extremely valuable skillsets for our team. She has attacked her recovery and rehab with determination and focus on returning to play at a high level. We’re excited to have Lou back on the court this season and know she’ll make an immediate impact.”
The SF, who was initially drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Sky in 2019, averaged 4.4 points, while grabbing 2.1 rebounds and making 0.8 assists. But despite her underwhelming performance this season, her college accolades show why she was drafted early.
Samuelson, alongside the likes of Brianna Stewart, Gabby Williams, and Napheesa Collier, won the NCAA Championship for the 2015-16 season under the guidance of legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma. It marked Samuelson’s freshman year in college, and she averaged 11 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists through 37 games. She even led the championship-winning Huskies in three-pointers made, bagging 78 three-point field goals. Samuelson was even named the 2016 ESPNW National Freshman of the Year for her debut season performance.
Katie Lou Samuelson has cemented her name in the Huskies’ record books, standing fifth in career points (2,342), sixth in career scoring average (16.7), and second in career three-point field goals (382), among other achievements. Samuelson’s international career is also noteworthy, as she has five gold medals as part of her campaigns with Team USA, including the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and the 2013 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Championship.
With a few games left in the regular season, the Seattle Storm will have to face their remaining schedule without Katie Lou Samuelson after the league resumes post the FIBA World Cup. Unfortunately for the Storm, another key rotational piece will be off the active roster.
Katie Lou Samuelson Is Not The Only Seattle Storm Player Missing Game Time
The Storm’s season is going from bad to worse, as the team will have to face three of the top teams in the WNBA standings after the FIBA break without two of their players. The Storm are set to face the Las Vegas Aces, the Golden State Valkyries, and the Dallas Wings when the regular season resumes.
And they will have to do so without Katie Lou Samuelson and Ezi Magbegor.
Magbegor, who has been an essential rotational player for the Storm all season, will miss the rest of the regular season, as Basketball Australia confirmed after their 82-80 win against Team Italy on September 9. Magbegor, who is the captain of the Opals, suffered a ruptured ACL and will require significant rehabilitation in order to return to the hardwood.
Ezi Magbegor landed awkwardly on her right foot after she received contact from Italy’s Lorela Cubaj on a rush to the rim late in the first quarter of the game. Though she missed the rim, the arena fell silent as she hopped on her left leg, eventually collapsing to the floor, clutching her right leg, visibly in pain.
She had to be escorted off the court by Team Australia staff. She will now be unable to participate in the remaining four games that the Seattle Storm will play after FIBA concludes. The veteran forward was initially drafted by the Storm in 2019 and debuted for the team the following year. Magbegor has remained with the team since and has averaged 6.9 points, four rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game over the 14 games she played for the Storm this season.
The WNBA regular season resumed on September 17, with the Storm holding the worst record in the WNBA this season at 8-32. Now, losing two players from their active roster as they face the league’s top teams will require head coach Sonia Raman to consider her depth options for their respective positions. The Storm will hope to improve their record without Katie Lou Samuelson and Ezi Magbegor.