The Indiana Fever announced the team has "mutually parted ways" with forward Katie Lou Samuelson Monday — news that hasn't exactly surprised eagle-eyed fans, especially after Coach Stephanie White showed up at Unrivaled last week and notably worked out with the team's Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston.
The move raises a lot of questions about Samuelson's future in the WNBA. ESPN's Alexa Philippou also reported that the forward is speaking to four teams as potential destinations, with some hoping she could land in the Bay Area with the Golden State Valkyries.
Breaking down Samuelson's contract with the Fever
Fans and WNBA insiders alike have noted the Fever's intentional phrasing in the team's announcement. "Parting ways" with an athlete indicates that Samuelson's contract was bought out by the Fever (who would have negotiated a lower rate than her contract minimum), and is a stark contrast to how to the team announced its decision to waive Grace Berger in early February. The language also indicates the Fever probably attempted to trade Samuelson first, but her prohibitive contract might not have yielded many offers.
The Fever paid Samuelson $175,000 for the 2024 season, and her salary is expected to jump to $180,250 this year. There's a potential scenario that could mean the team offered her $100,000 — which would be a lot of dead cap space for the Fever but a) not Samuelson's full contract and b) would give the team the space to pay Syd Colson, who they recently signed.
The Valkyries certainly have the cap space to bring Samuelson on and could benefit from adding another league vet to the roster, especially if Samuelson is making strides in terms of her physical fitness.
How the Valkyries could benefit if Katie Lou Samuelson joins the team
Samuelson presents an interesting case for the Golden State Valkyries. The 2024 season wasn't her best, but that was likely due to the fact that she took the 2023 season off to give birth to her daughter, and returned to the court only 8 months later. She didn't get a lot of playing time last year, a fact that makes it tough to justify her contract, but it's profoundly important to note that most women need 2-3 full years after giving birth to truly recover, and Samuelson hasn't yet been afforded the time she might need.
This could mean Samuelson joins another team at the league minimum, something she might agree to if it means she'll make enough to not have to travel overseas in the offseason (and doing so will ensure she can stay in the league).
If the Valkyries can offer Samuelson the playing time she needs, it's entirely possible she could flourish in the Bay Area. And if Samuelson is ready to take a pay cut and opt for the 7-year veteran minimum of $78,831, the Valkyries will still have room to bring in a few more athletes.
The rest of the WNBA has 5 days to claim Samuelson and take on her contract — and after that, she'll become a free agent, which opens her up to the wild, wild West we've all enjoyed so far.