Storm adds Williams in exchange for Katie Lou Samuelson and draft pick
SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm announced today the team has acquired forward Gabby Williams from the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for forward Katie Lou Samuelson and Seattle’s first-round pick (No. 9 overall) in the 2022 WNBA Draft.
“Gabby is a versatile player that brings a dynamic skill set to our team,” said Talisa Rhea, Storm General Manager. “As we have watched her develop in the WNBA and excel internationally we are thrilled she will be joining us in Seattle and believe she can have immediate impact on our roster.”
Williams, a three-year WNBA vet, was Chicago’s No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft after a standout career at UConn. She played three seasons for the Sky where she averaged 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals pers game before being traded to Los Angeles in 2021. Williams did not play in 2021 WNBA season while training with the French National Team for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. She went on to average 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game to help lead France to a Bronze medal—just the second time the French have medaled at the Olympics.
“I couldn’t be more excited to come to the WNBA this summer with the Seattle Storm,” said Williams. “It feels great to know that I’ll be joining a franchise with such an incredible culture. I have the opportunity to play with and learn from players who I consider to be some of the greatest of all time and I’m absolutely looking forward it.”
Williams is currently playing with Sopron Basket (Hungary) along with fellow Storm newcomer Briann January. In EuroLeague play this season, Williams is leading the team with 13.5 points per game while also contributing 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Sopron is second in EuroLeague Group B with an 8-6 record and qualified Wednesday for its second-straight trip to the quarterfinal round. In 2020-21, Williams was an All-EuroLeague First-Team selection and the EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year, finishing second with 2.1 steals per game and ninth with 15.9 points per contest while also averaging 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game.
Williams was a two-time NCAA Champion and 2017 National Defensive Player of the Year at UConn where she helped the Huskies to a 148-3 record in four seasons. She finished her collegiate career as one of only eight UConn players to record 1,000 point and 1,000 rebounds, a list which includes Storm forward Breanna Stewart.
The Seattle Storm opens the 2022 season on Friday, May 6, hosting the Minnesota Lynx in its return home, playing its first full season in Seattle since 2018 at the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena. Tickets are available at http://ticketcentral.seattlestormbasketball.com, or by calling 206-217-WNBA (9622).