Lynx trade for Karlie Samuelson, add three draft picks to already crowded roster

In one day, in two ways, the Lynx both went all in on a 2025 WNBA title bid and invested in youth for the future.

Talk about multitasking on WNBA draft day.

In order: The Lynx sent their 2026 first-round pick to Washington for Karlie Samuelson, a sharpshooting, hard-nosed veteran who has found her footing in the league. She is a versatile player who will help a Lynx team that came within a victory of a league title last year.

And then: With their first pick of the night, No. 15 overall, the Lynx took 19-year-old Russian forward Anastasiia Olairi Kosu in the second round.

Those were the local highlights on a night when former Hopkins star Paige Bueckers, fresh off a national title with UConn, went first overall to Dallas.

Moving aggressively to acquire Samuelson, Lynx coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve said the 6-0 guard would likely be on a roster that already returns all five starters, two top reserves and recently signed French center Marième Badiane.

“For 2025 the team we want on the floor is one putting our best foot forward to get back to the Finals,” Reeve said. “It provides us depth. It was a piece we pursued through a fair amount of the offseason. And then, there finally was an opening.”

“This is someone who is really hungry to play in the WNBA,” Reeve said. The 6-1 Kosu grew up in Kursk, Russia, watching a Dynamo Kursk team that was a EuroLeague power when she was young featuring players such as WNBA stars Nneka Ogwumike and Breanna Stewart.

Reeve said Kosu is expected in camp, though getting a Russian player here might mean navigating some red tape.

With their second second-round pick, No. 24 overall, the Lynx took 6-4 forward Dalayah Daniels — an efficient player at Washington (she shot 57.5% from the floor this past season) whose ability to play on the perimeter Reeve liked. In the third round, they took guard/forward Aubrey Griffin. The ninth UConn player Reeve has drafted through the years, Griffin was slowed by injuries the past two seasons.

Samuelson was an undrafted rookie out of Stanford in 2018 and spent several seasons fighting for opportunity. But she found her footing in 2023 in Los Angeles. Last year with the Mystics — where her head coach was current Lynx assistant Eric Thibault — Samuelson set a career high in scoring (8.4 ppg) while shooting 39.8% from three-point range and 92.3% from the free-throw line.

Samuelson would seem well-suited to fill the role held by Cecilia Zandalasini, who was lost to Golden State in the expansion draft. The move became possible when the Lynx sent their first-round pick to Chicago (No. 11 overall) in exchange for the Sky’s first-rounder next year.