The Minnesota Lynx announced today the team has traded its own 2026 WNBA Draft first-round selection to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Karlie Samuelson. The Lynx will retain its first-round 2026 WNBA Draft pick acquired from the Chicago Sky yesterday.
Samuelson, a 6-0 forward, joins Minnesota after posting a career-high 8.4 points per game last season while adding 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest.
She shot 39.8% (49-for-123) from the three-point line (13th in the WNBA) and 92.3% (36-for-39) from the line in 29 games with Washington. The Huntington Beach, Calif. native and Stanford graduate was originally signed by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2018 and joined Washington as a free agent in 2024. The forward holds career averages of 5.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in six WNBA seasons.
Samuelson ranks ninth all-time in the WNBA in three-point percentage, at 39.7% and ranked 19th in 3PM with 1.7 per game last year. While with Los Angeles in 2023, Samuelson joined Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Lexie Brown as the only players to shoot at least .450 percent from the field and .400 percent or better from three-point range [min. 25 3PM].
(info courtesy of Lynx)
