LOS ANGELES (June 30, 2021) – The Los Angeles Sparks re-signed Karlie Samuelson under the hardship exception, the team announced today. The team initially signed Samuelson on June 5 under a hardship contract. In six games this season, including one start, Samuelson has averaged 3.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 13.0 minutes per game. She had a breakout game on June 24, when she came off the bench and scored a career-high 13 points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, to help the Sparks defeat the Washington Mystics.
“Karlie Samuelson is someone with WNBA experience who can provide outside shooting, has familiarity with our organization, and is a great teammate,” General Manager and Head Coach Derek Fisher said when Samuelson was first-signed this season.
The Sparks history with Samuelson dates back to 2017 when she signed a training camp contract with the organization. After missing that season due to injury, Samuelson returned in 2018 and earned a spot on the opening day roster. She shot 40% on 3-pointers in her first four games with LA. After being released with overseas players returning, Samuelson was re-signed for the remainder of the season in June of 2018.
In 2019, Samuelson played three games for the Sparks on a seven-day contract and four games for the Dallas Wings. In total, she’s appeared in 33 WNBA games. Samuelson, the sister of Seattle Storm wing Katie Lou Samuelson, is an Orange County native and played at Stanford University.