Who is Sami Whitcomb? Closer look at Australia's veteran guard's career and more

By Mathews Kannanthara

Modified Aug 08, 2024 15:38 GMT

Sami Whitcomb is an American-Australian professional basketball player, currently representing Team Australia at the women's basketball event in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The veteran guard has been a catalyst for the Opals, who have advanced to the semifinals as they seek their first medal in the Olympic tournament since their third-place finish in the London Olympics.

Born in Ventura, California, in 1988, Whitcomb started playing at the age of 12 as a means to be closer to her dad after her parents divorced early on. Despite spending less time together, she credits much of her perseverance to her early experiences playing basketball with her father while growing up in Ventura.

Sami Whitcomb played college basketball at the University of Washington before being undrafted by the WNBA in 2010. She then moved on to play in several European leagues.

However, Sami's European team failed in 2013, leaving her in limbo until she received an opportunity from Western Australia to play for the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League.

Since then, Whitcomb's basketball career has blossomed, which put her on the trajectory for the Paris Olympics. She became a naturalized Australian citizen in February 2018 and debuted for the Australian team later in the same year.

Sami Whitcomb also found a wife in her long-time partner, former West Australian basketball player Kate Malpass. Sami married Kate in the US in 2017 and later had their marriage recognized in Australia when same-sex marriage laws changed.

The couple has two sons together, three-year-old Nash and seven-month-old Reef.

Sami Whitcomb's basketball career took off when she headed to play in Australia after her short stint in Europe. She had a dominating run with the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League, which landed her an import spot with the Perth Lynx of the WNBL in 2015. Sami was selected for the WNBL All-Star team for the next three years as she quickly established herself as a star in the league.

After being overlooked in the 2010 draft, Whitcomb's performance in the WNBL garnered the attention of the WNBA. She was signed by the Seattle Storm in 2017. She clinched her first WNBA title with the Storm in the following season.

The experienced guard won her second WNBA championship with the Storm in 2020, and she thereafter joined the New York Liberty, where she was coached by Opals head coach Sandy Brondello. She returned to the Storm in 2023 and is currently playing with them in the 2024 WNBA season.

Sami Whitcomb has also won two medals with Australia at the FIBA World Cup: silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022. She looks forward to add an Olympic medal to her list of awards at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

How is Sami Whitcomb faring at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

Sami Whitcomb has put up terrific performances for the Australian team as they will face Team USA on Friday for their semifinal matchup of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ahead of the upcoming matchup, Whitcomb has averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.8 steals in Australia's four Olympic games while shooting 50.0% from the field, including 30.8% from deep.