Fever Before Katie Lou Samuelson is ready for a new start with Unrivaled.
After having her daughter, Aliya, in August 2023, Samuelson had a difficult first season on the court with the Fever.
Samuelson, who has played with Chicago, Seattle and Indiana since being drafted No. 4 overall in 2019, signed with Indiana in February 2024, with hopes she could be the shooter 3-pointer she was in college and the WNBA.
Samuelson, however, struggled to find her chance throughout the season, and she eventually transitioned from a starting role to coming off the bench. Taking care of her daughter and returning to the game just eight months after giving birth, she described 2024 as one of her toughest seasons yet.
But with Unrivaled this WNBA offseason, Samuelson has the chance to hone her skills ahead of her sophomore season with Indiana — the final season of her two-year contract worth $355,000.
“It was a great opportunity,” Samuelson said of his role in Unrivaled. “When they came and asked me to join them, it was something I thought we couldn’t pass up. A chance to not only play against the best players in the league, but also to work with the best players. They have created an elite team of people around us to help us improve and do everything we need to do. This is something you don’t always get and is hard to find, especially during the offseason.
Book by Caitlin Clark: Celebrate Caitlin Clark’s historic rookie season with the Fever with our special book!
Samuelson was one of the last players announced as part of the new league, taking one of the wildcard spots after the inaugural teams were formed. The UConn star already has a relationship with co-founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, having played with them in college.
She is also one of the best 3×3 players in the country – she was supposed to be part of the 2021 Olympic 3×3 team in Tokyo, but had to drop out after contracting COVID-19 just a week before the Games began.
But this style of 3×3 is something Samuelson – or any player, really – has never played. Still, Samuelson hopes she can bring some experience to her Phantom Basketball Club teammates, which include Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally and Natasha Cloud.
“It’s a very different game than I’ve played before,” Samuelson said. “A full court adds a different dimension to it, but the spacing and understanding where to be, offensively and defensively, is easier to understand. Hopefully with this knowledge my team can trust me and rely on me to be in the right spots and just be a valuable player for our team.
Fever News: Why Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull is starring in Unrivaled this offseason
The unbeatable will be a 3×3 game on a full court, unlike the Olympic concept of a half court. The new league will also feature four quarters, unlike the single Olympic 10-minute period with a shot clock.
This new style, especially regarding the full court appearance, will expose all players on the field. And every player will have to be prepared.
“I think it’s even harder to hide in that 3-on-3 type of game, you have to be involved no matter what, offensively and defensively,” Samuelson said. “You have to be able to manage yourself all the time. It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s really interesting to see how the matches go, the scores.
This article was originally published on the Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever: Katie Lou Samuelson brings the 3×3 experience to Unrivaled
