On Thursday night, UConn guard Samuels took to Instagram to reveal her decision to enter the transfer portal. Despite contributing offensively off the bench, she struggled to secure a consistent spot in the Huskies’ rotation due to the team’s deep backcourt.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for His continued blessings and guidance,” Samuels wrote. “To UConn Nation thank you for the love, support, and unforgettable memories. Wearing the UConn jersey these past two years has been a blessing as I’ve grown, developed, and achieved my dream of winning a national championship. Now, I’m ready to begin the next chapter of my journey.”
Talia Goodman of On3sports was the first to report the news on Thursday.
Over her two seasons at UConn, the Maryland native averaged 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game. In the most recent season, her role diminished, averaging just 1.1 points and 0.7 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per contest, often as the final player off the bench.
Her most memorable moment came during the 2024 Elite Eight matchup against USC, when she was the first sub off the bench and hit a critical three-pointer during an 8-0 run that gave UConn a solid lead. She also notched a career-best 18 points in a blowout win over Toronto Metropolitan University on Dec. 20, 2023, and posted eight points in 11 minutes in the season opener against Boston University.
Samuels was the first recipient of the Big East Freshman of the Week award for the 2023–24 season and was ranked No. 41 in ESPN’s Class of 2023. Initially leaning toward Miami, she ultimately committed to UConn in June 2022 after interest from head coach Geno Auriemma.
She becomes the third player in the past two seasons to transfer out of UConn, following Inês Bettencourt and Amari DeBerry. With her exit, the Huskies are left with 10 returning players and are set to welcome three incoming freshmen. This leaves two open roster spots available for potential transfer additions.
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