It’s frustrating for fringe WNBA players to be in and out of the league. That’s why it’s good to get by with a little help from your friends, and this is precisely why GB Basketball stars Karlie Samuelson and Kristine Anigwe are enjoying their time with the LA Sparks.
The vision Slim has 👓 | pic.twitter.com/j0TEhmnT55
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks)
Samuelson went off for a career high 13 points on Thursday in a win over the Washington Mystics, and earlier in the week she told Double Clutch about how her experience playing for GB Basketball has helped her and Anigwe stay upbeat as a journeywoman in and out of the WNBA.
Samuelson laughed: “We’ve got our positive glasses on for sure. No Chema Buceta plays, but Chema attitude always.”
The ‘positive glasses’ is a mantra GB Basketball coach Chema Buceta preached during the team’s run to EuroBasket final four in 2019. And while the country failed to qualify for this year’s competition, the ethos remains, as does the camaraderie with her British, and now Sparks, teammate.
We've got our on 🤓 pic.twitter.com/fxK5uL8LrG
— GB Basketball (@gbbasketball)
The relationship was clear during a Zoom call, in which both players were laughing and enjoying being back in the WNBA.
Samuelson said: “We don’t have any specific jokes but we bond over [the British basketball experience]. As soon as I saw that me and Kristine were signing at the same time, [I was definitely pleased].”
The legend of ’s ‘positive glasses’ on the Women’s squad is having an impact in the ⬇️😂🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/R7bJdqgEsk
— Huw Hopkins (@TheHoopsNerd)
They are making the most of their playing time while the Ogwumike sisters are injured, but with Jasmine Walker out for the year, there might be an opportunity for one of them to secure a spot for the rest of the season. And with their glasses most definitely on, combined with the way they are playing, things are looking positive.
