The trade sends the 29-year-old guard to Minnesota in exchange for one of the Lynx’s two first-round draft picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
After already making a move on the eve of the draft that brought in a draft pick asset in 2026, the Minnesota Lynx continued the moves the morning of the 2025 WNBA Draft, making yet another trade.
Just hours before the start of the draft, Minnesota used one of its two first-round draft picks — one of which the Lynx acquired less than 24 hours prior — as trade ammo, going out and acquiring guard Karlie Samuelson from the Washington Mystics.
welcome to Minnesota, Karlie! pic.twitter.com/zRRoJSUOAL
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) April 14, 2025
The pick that the Lynx are sending to the Mystics is not the pick they acquired from the Chicago Sky on Sunday, but rather Minnesota’s own pick.
Samuelson, a soon-to-be 30-year-old guard, has jumped between five teams so far in her six-year WNBA career, most recently playing for Washington in 2024. With the Mystics last summer, Samuelson averaged 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 40.9% from the field.
One thing that has limited her in her time in the WNBA thus far has been her ability to stay healthy. She has played in more than 30 games once in her career, most recently taking the court in 29 games with the Mystics a season ago.
When Samuelson is healthy and on the court, she provides a big lift offensively, notably from three. The sharpshooting guard holds a career 3-point percentage of 39.7%, including shooting 39.8% from deep a season ago and 42.6% from three in 2023 with Los Angeles.
Along with her ability to provide a spark offensively, Samuelson improved a bit defensively in 2024, swiping a career-high steals mark that finished just under one steal per game. She also finished the year with her fourth-lowest Defensive Rating of her career (98.3).
The addition of Samuelson brings in something of a need for the Lynx, that being another threat from three. She is also on a friendly contract with her contract expiring after the 2025 campaign.
Great fit in Minnesota, having lost Zandalasini. Like another Carleton, but needs the ball in her hands even less. Contract is also a nice fit, allowing them to keep 12 on opening day. Such a nice fit to make me think this might’ve been in the works for quite some time. #WNBA https://t.co/zNGhUdu62J
— Richard Cohen (@RichardCohen1) April 14, 2025
Samuelson already has a few connections to Minnesota without even having stepped foot on the court in a Lynx uniform. For starters, she is reunited with former Mystics head coach Eric Thibault, who is now part of the Lynx coaching staff. Samuelson has also spent time overseas with Bridget Carleton this offseason while playing for ÇBK Mersin in Turkey.
If Samuelson can stay healthy, she could emerge as a valuable asset among Minnesota’s second unit in 2025. And as Minnesota attempts to run it back to reach the WNBA Finals again this season, Samuelson could provide the Lynx with yet another threat on the offensive end of the floor.