Karlie Samuelson Bio
Karlie Anne Samuelson, born on May 10, 1995, in Fullerton, California, is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. A standout three-point shooter, she played collegiate basketball at Stanford University before launching a global career that has spanned the WNBA, Europe, and Australia. She has represented the Great Britain women’s national basketball team internationally through her mother’s nationality.
Standing at 183 cm, Samuelson is recognized for her perimeter shooting, basketball intelligence, and versatility across multiple leagues. Her career includes championship success in Spain, Belgium, Australia, and Turkey, along with individual accolades such as the EuroCup Finals MVP.
Early Life and Background
Karlie Anne Samuelson was born and raised in Fullerton, California, as an Orange County native. She is the middle daughter of two former athletes. Her father played basketball at Cal State Fullerton and in England, where he met her mother, a former netball player who reached the England national team. Her mother is British, a connection that later allowed Karlie to represent Great Britain in international competition.
During her high school years, Samuelson attended both Edison High School in Huntington Beach and Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, where she developed into one of the top shooting prospects in the country. She played alongside her older sister Bonnie at Mater Dei, establishing the family as one of the most prominent basketball families in American women’s basketball.
Path to Basketball
Samuelson committed to Stanford University, where she played from 2013 to 2017. At Stanford, she excelled as a three-point shooter and earned All-Pac-12 honors in her senior season. She graduated with a degree in human biology while contributing significantly to the Cardinal’s success.
She qualified twice for the NCAA Final Four, first as a freshman in 2013 and again as a senior in 2017. In her final collegiate season, she was named to the Regional All-Tournament Team before suffering a sprained ankle that forced her to miss the national semifinal. Despite going undrafted in the 2017 WNBA Draft, Samuelson had already proven herself as one of the premier shooters in college basketball.
Karlie Samuelson Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
After going undrafted in the 2017 WNBA Draft, Samuelson made her professional debut in Italy’s Serie A1 with Pallacanestro Vigarano. She played 13 games for the Italian club before leaving in January 2018, citing personal reasons. That same year, she briefly became an assistant coach for the Vanguard Lions while pursuing a master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine.
She rejoined the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2018 WNBA season and made the final roster. On May 20, 2018, she made her WNBA debut against the Minnesota Lynx, scoring three points in 13 minutes. She appeared in 20 regular-season games and two playoff games that year, averaging 4.2 minutes per contest.
European Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Following the Sparks’ elimination in the 2018 WNBA playoffs, Samuelson signed with BC Castors Braine in Belgium, where she won the Belgian National League championship in 2019. She averaged 16 points per game in the Belgian league and 9.7 points per game in EuroLeague competition, establishing herself as a high-level international scorer.
After being waived by the Dallas Wings in 2019, Samuelson and her younger sister Katie Lou both signed with CB Avenida in Spain. With Avenida, she won back-to-back Liga Femenina de Baloncesto championships in 2021 and 2022, as well as two Queen’s Cup titles in 2020 and 2022. Her shooting and scoring helped make Avenida one of the dominant forces in Spanish women’s basketball during that era.
Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury Era (2021–2022)
Samuelson signed again with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2021, where she made her first career WNBA start. After being released in August 2021, she joined her sister Katie Lou on the Seattle Storm for the remainder of the season. In May 2022, the Phoenix Mercury signed Samuelson to a hardship contract, continuing her presence in the WNBA.
Los Angeles Sparks Resurgence (2023)
Samuelson rejoined the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2023 WNBA season and enjoyed her most productive WNBA campaign to that point. She played in 34 games and ranked sixth in the league in three-point shooting percentage at 42.6 percent, cementing her reputation as one of the WNBA’s top perimeter shooters.
Washington Mystics and Minnesota Lynx Era (2024–Present)
Prior to the 2024 WNBA season, Samuelson signed with the Washington Mystics. It was her 18th WNBA contract and the first that covered a full season. She played 29 regular-season games, posting a career-high 8.4 points per game, and climbed to ninth on the WNBA’s all-time three-point percentage list at 39.7 percent.
On April 14, 2025, the Minnesota Lynx acquired Samuelson on the day of the WNBA Draft, sending the Mystics a 2026 first-round pick. She was brought in by Eric Thibault, her former coach at the Mystics. She played 16 games for the Lynx, averaging 14.3 minutes, 3.3 points, and 1.1 assists, before a season-ending foot injury. On August 3, 2025, she was traded to the Dallas Wings along with Diamond Miller and a 2027 second-round pick in exchange for DiJonai Carrington, and was subsequently waived by the Wings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Samuelson is widely regarded as an elite three-point shooter with deep range and quick release. Her offensive game is built around floor spacing and perimeter accuracy, allowing her to complement ball-handlers and stretch opposing defenses. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated adaptability across multiple leagues, adjusting her style to fit varied tactical systems in Europe, Australia, and the WNBA.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Samuelson’s career came in 2024, when she led the London Lions to the EuroCup Women title and was named Finals MVP after averaging 17.5 points and 3.5 rebounds across the two-game final. Earlier in that EuroCup run, she was named Player of the Month for February 2024 after scoring 44 points and shooting nearly 63 percent in the quarterfinals against Melikgazi Kayseri. She also reached the 2024–25 EuroLeague Women final with CBK Mersin, narrowly missing the championship.
Karlie Samuelson Career Wins
Karlie Anne Samuelson has built a decorated international resume since turning professional in 2017, capturing championships and individual honors across multiple continents. Her success spans top leagues in Belgium, Spain, Australia, and Turkey, complemented by milestone achievements in the WNBA.
EuroCup and European Highlights
Samuelson won the EuroCup Women championship in 2024 with the London Lions and was named Finals MVP for her dominant two-game performance. She also led the Lions to the WBBL Trophy title in 2024 and reached the EuroLeague Women final in 2025 with CBK Mersin. Earlier in her European career, she won the Belgian National League championship in 2019 with BC Castors Braine and two Spanish Liga Femenina titles plus two Queen’s Cup crowns with CB Avenida.
Other Wins and Performances
In Australia, Samuelson won the Women’s National Basketball League championship with the Townsville Fire in 2023. She also captured the Turkish Cup in 2025 with Çukurova Basketbol. In college, she was named All-Pac-12 in her senior season at Stanford in 2017.
Karlie Samuelson Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Samuelson hails from one of the most recognizable basketball families in American sports. Her father played college basketball at Cal State Fullerton and continued his career in England, where he met her mother, a former netball player who represented the England national team. Karlie has two sisters who also played basketball at the highest level: older sister Bonnie Samuelson and younger sister Katie Lou Samuelson. The three sisters all played collegiate basketball at Stanford, a rare family legacy within the program.
Personal Life
Karlie Anne Samuelson holds dual American and British nationality through her mother’s English heritage, which enabled her to represent the Great Britain women’s national basketball team in international competition. She debuted for Great Britain in February 2018 and went on to compete in EuroBasket Women 2019, where she averaged 11.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.9 rebounds as Great Britain finished fourth.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved eventful for Karlie Anne Samuelson. She began the year by being traded to the Minnesota Lynx on the day of the 2025 WNBA Draft, reuniting with coach Eric Thibault. She appeared in 16 games for the Lynx, providing perimeter shooting and veteran leadership, before a foot injury cut her season short.
On August 3, 2025, Samuelson was traded to the Dallas Wings as part of a multi-player deal. She was subsequently waived by the Wings, returning her to free agency. Despite the injury setback, her career-high percentages and continued production in limited minutes reinforced her standing as one of the WNBA’s most efficient three-point specialists.