Karlie Samuelson received quite a surprise after turning off the airplane mode. She was traded from the Washington Mystics to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick, mid-air. “Traded mid 10-hour flight with no wifi is crazyyyyyyyy,” she posted just two hours after the trade. However, she didn’t complain as the Lynx welcomed her with open arms. “Wow! Haven’t processed this all yet, but I am extremely excited about this!!! Let’s go Lynx!!!💚”. 

Just like that, Karlie Samuelson’s journey with her sixth WNBA team in seven years was officially underway. Still, the on-court results didn’t fully match the energy of the fresh start. The 30-year-old’s numbers were down from her career averages. She was shooting just 33.3 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. Through 16 games in the 2025 season, she was averaging 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per outing.

And just as she was beginning to settle in, everything came to a sudden stop.

What Happened to Karlie Samuelson?

Just ahead of their commissioner’s cup final vs. the Fever, Minnesota Lynx’s veteran guard Karlie Samuelson had been ruled out due to a foot injury. Samuelson, who is on a 2-year $233,450 contract with the Lynx went down during the 2nd quarter of their game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, June 29. It all happened after logging in for just 3:19 short minutes.

She collapsed to the floor in visible pain and clutched her foot. She had to be then carried to the locker room in a wheelchair. It created a tense environment in the arena as it was a significant setback for the league-leading Lynx. She added a considerable amount of backcourt depth to their roster, and that’s what the team values. Karlie Samuelson’s absence showed in Lynx’s next matchup when they lost to the Fever.

Turns out that Karlie Samuelson had suffered a Lisfranc Fracture. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, “Lisfranc (midfoot) injuries result if bones in the midfoot are broken or ligaments that support the midfoot are torn. Midfoot fracture dislocations are named after French surgeon Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin, who served in the Napoleanic army in the 1800s and observed midfoot injuries in cavalry soldiers.” 

The severity of a Lisfranc injury can vary widely. It ranges from a simple injury involving one midfoot joint to a complex injury involving many midfoot joints and broken bones. Moreover, even a simple Lisfranc injury is a severe injury that may take many months to heal and may require surgery to treat.

How Long Till Karlie Samuelson Is Back?

The Lynx franchise recently released an official statement regarding Samuelson’s injury update. It read “An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) was taken at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine in Minneapolis, where Samuelson also met with Mayo Clinic foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Norman Turner III, to further evaluate and discuss treatment options.”

The report further read, “Samuelson will undergo surgery and subsequently miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Further updates on her progress will be provided when available.” That comes as a severe heartbreak for Lynx fans all around the world. It’s a bad injury – the same thing that cost Chet Holmgren his entire first NBA season. However, he did return stronger and so will Karlie Samuelson.

It was a relief for the Lynx fans to know that Karlie Samuelson’s in good hands. Because who better to trust in such situations than the multi-year partner (Mayo Clinic) she wears on her jersey? She is probably being treated in the state-of-the-art training facility and sports medicine center in Mayo Clinic Square, formerly known as Block E in downtown Minneapolis.