This WNBA offseason has already produced one noteworthy bit of news involving Katie Lou Samuelson as she was one of many cogs involving that blockbuster five-team deal between the Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, Dallas Wings, New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx that sent Samuelson from Dallas to Seattle.
It has produced yet another noteworthy bit of news as USA Basketball has added Samuelson to its 3×3 roster. She replaces Napheesa Collier who is “no longer able to participate” per a USA Basketball release and joins Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Stefanie Dolson on the team.
Oh, how sweet it is! Sweet Lou is back on the sport court 🙌@33katielou has been added to the USA Women’s 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Team to team up with @bigmamastef, @Graytness_15 & @Kelseyplum10.
— USA Basketball 3×3 (@usab3x3) March 1, 2021
LOUUU
🥇 Three 3×3 Gold Medals
👍 26-1 3×3 RecordSeven years away, @33katielou makes her 3×3 return for the @FIBA3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament May 26-30! pic.twitter.com/Rjs9kPPgXy
— USA Basketball 3×3 (@usab3x3) March 1, 2021
Samuelson brings 3×3 experience to the team as she won a gold medal with the 3×3 at the 2014 Youth Olympics in China.
It is such an honor to be able to go and compete in this tournament to hopefully qualify for the Olympics. I cannot wait to start playing, and I am excited to be playing 3×3 again. 3×3 has always been extremely fun for me, and I look forward to representing the USA once again.
–Katie Lou Samuelson (USA Basketball release)
USA Basketball’s 3×3 team will vie for an Olympic berth at the FIBA Olympic qualifiers in late May in Austria with China, Mongolia, Romania and Russia having already qualified. This is also around the time a prospective WNBA season would begin. Could this be part of the reason we have yet to see a schedule release?
Hmmm…..
