I was part of the first sisters duo in WNBA history – now after ‘last dance’ in Europe I’m ready for my next challenge | EO4V5ZQ | 2024-04-03 02:08:01
I was part of the first sisters duo in WNBA history – now after 'last dance' in Europe I'm ready for my next challenge | EO4V5ZQ | 2024-04-03 02:08:01
Having gone undrafted out of Stanford in 2017, the 6ft shooter initially bounced around the WNBA with ou
KARLIE Samuelson loved a breakout season for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023, after moving into her pregnant sister's footwear.
Having gone undrafted out of Stanford in 2017, the 6ft shooter initially bounced around the WNBA with out discovering a permanent house.
Sustaining a constructive angle and progress mentality all through, she didn't waver on her perception that she might stick in the league.
Getting into the WNBA, Samuelson skilled enjoying towards her teenager sister Katie Lou earlier than ultimately ending up on the same roster with the Seattle Storm.
"The primary time we performed each other, I never acquired to play her in school, that was weird," she advised The US Solar.
"In the recreation it's weird, because I would like her to do nicely, she needs me to do nicely. You shut it off through the recreation because you're simply competing. However we did guard one another, it was a bit funky.
"However then I obtained signed by Seattle literally a month later and received to play together with her in order that was a whirlwind of a season. However I much favor enjoying together with her however obviously it's nonetheless fun to see her and compete."
Katie Lou, now 26, was traded to the Sparks in 2022 – a group that Karlie had already experienced three separate stints with.
So when she returned for a fourth spell last yr, Samuelson, 28, found herself moving into her sister's footwear – with Katie Lou lacking the season to have a baby.
For the first time, Karlie discovered herself frequently beginning games; posting profession highs in starts (23), minutes per recreation (26.1), subject aim proportion (.463), rebounds per recreation, (three), assists per recreation (two) and points per recreation (7.7).
"I feel it's time and place, opportunity. My sister acquired pregnant, someone that they signed to switch her tore her ACL so she wasn't there, so my three place was open, so time and place there."
With Katie Lou technically nonetheless on the Sparks' roster, the Samuelsons joined the Ogwumike sisters on the staff – making a slice of WNBA history in the course of.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> "I played with Nneka and Chiney (Ogwumike)," Samuelson defined.
"Lou was pregnant however technically still on the roster, so I feel we're the primary two-sister duo last season to all be on the same group together."
Samuelson's brilliance final season earned her the steadiness of a two-year contract and an exciting new undertaking with the Washington Mystics.
Her sister, meanwhile, is nearing a return and has signed for the rebuilding Indiana Fever – who're set to draft Iowa phenom Caitlin Clark with their upcoming No.1 decide.
</div> </div> Samuelson revealed: "For the primary time ever we've been by means of a free company together. Not the identical clearly, but we've both been feeling out where we're going to sign.
"She visited Indiana and she or he liked the coach, liked her imaginative and prescient. They've been rebuilding for some time now. However once you get multiple No.1 picks in a row, I feel that's a key factor.
"I do know that Lou stated there's some stat the place each workforce that's gotten consecutive No.1 picks has gained a championship the subsequent three years or one thing like that… so she just felt it's on a great path – a whole lot of young players but loads of very gifted players, and I feel they'll be the group to observe."
Earlier than heading to Washington for coaching camp, Samuelson has unfinished enterprise with the London Lions, having spent the winter with the dominant British champions.
She has performed a key position in reaching the EuroCup remaining, during which she is going to face Turkish giants Besiktas over two legs, with the second happening in London on April 10, before she leaves the workforce the very subsequent day.
Having came upon that the Lions won't be competing in Europe subsequent season, despite their present success, on the cusp of their semi-final tie – Samuelson revealed that the current group is treating the ultimate as their "final dance".
'IT WAS A HUGE SHOCK'
She stated: "We have been informed of that a week or so prior. I don't know why this stuff maintain getting leaked on recreation days.
"So we knew already, it wasn't a shock. Once we came upon it was a shock, a huge shock. It's disappointing with a lot success that we're having this season. Individuals can do what they want with their cash, proper, it's your cash you make investments it and you personal a staff.
"However it's disappointing to start out a undertaking and have so much success then pull it right once we attain a ultimate. That's how I really feel about it.
"I might have liked to play in London once more with the same group of women, hopefully we might have got that.
"Who is aware of? You win EuroCup you get a bid for EuroLeague, that's big. So it's disappointing however we're treating this as our last hurrah.
"It united us to seek out out because we love each other. It's been a real growing season but we've gotten actually close. It's super strange. It doesn't matter if we lost in the quarters, the semis… our fate for next yr appeared set.
"So it was like the final dance, let's do that for each other, let's show what we're product of."
The Samuelsons joined the Ogwumike sisters, Chiney, left, and Nneka, proper, with the Sparks[/caption]
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