Seattle Storm’s Samuelson will miss Olympics after positive COVID test
Jul 20, 2021, 10:03 AM
Katie Lou Samuelson (L) of USA in action againast Deolinda Gimo (R) of Mozambique during the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020 Group A match between Mozambique and USA at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on Feb. 8, 2020, in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
(Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
A positive COVID-19 test means that the Seattle Storm’s Katie Lou Samuelson will not get to go to the Tokyo Olympics.
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Samuelson contracted COVID-19 while training in Las Vegas. She says she is fully vaccinated and took every precaution.
Samuelson would have competed for the United States in the 3×3 women’s basketball competition.
In a post on Instagram, Samuelson wrote:
I am devastated to share that after getting sick with COVID-19, I will not be able to go and compete in Tokyo. Competing in the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I hope someday soon, I can come back to realize that dream. I am especially heartbroken as I am fully vaccinated and took every precaution, but I know everything will work itself out in the way it’s supposed to.
I wish nothing but the best to my USAB teammates as they go out there and crush it. I’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.
Also on the USA’s 3×3 team is Kelsey Plum, who graduated from the University of Washington and now plays for the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA.
The Seattle Storm will still be represented at the Tokyo Olympics as the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team includes Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, and Jewell Loyd. Dan Hughes, who was the coach of the Storm up until his retirement from the WNBA in May, is the assistant coach of the Olympic team.
The opening ceremony for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, is July 23, 2021. The games run until Aug. 8.
The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.
