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Team USA’s inaugural 3x3 Olympic women’s basketball roster took a hit today, as Katie Lou Samuelson of the Seattle Storm won’t be able to make the trip to Tokyo. She’ll be replaced by Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
They’ve been training in Vegas and were set to travel today, according to Stefanie Dolson’s IG. https://t.co/Na7Ps3IooS
— Maggie Hendricks (@maggiehendricks) July 19, 2021
It’s another tough break in the somewhat-cursed career of the former UConn Huskies star that was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2015. She was on the bench with injury during the Final Four for her only national championship while in Storrs, then lost three straight games in the semifinal round of the Final Four before graduating, some of them in heartbreaking fashion.
She’s also been unable to find her footing in the WNBA after being drafted by the Chicago Sky, and spending her sophomore season with the Dallas Wings. She’s fit in nicely off the bench for the Storm this season, averaging a career high 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 16 appearances before beginning national team duty.
Young joins her Aces teammate Kelsey Plum, as well as Stefanie Dolson of the Chicago Sky and Allisha Gray of the Dallas Wings in Tokyo. Kara Lawson of Duke women’s basketball will serve as the team’s head coach.