Undrafted: Underrated x Underestimated

[The JZA]

[The JZA]

LET'S RUN IT BACK

Two days later after the "bruised" game, Khyri found her-self right back in the training facility. Arriving early, she spent nearly three hours putting in work before the second person walked into the gym. Truth be told, Khyri was very upset about her performance against the Sparks. She never would have thought she'd be so gassed just trying to win a game, let alone be injured. Not 20 games in and she was feeling burnt out. After a full day's rest, Khyri was adamant about changing that, looking to snap back in gear over the course of the WNBA grind. With four games over the course of the next 18 days, Khyri was dead set on improving...

[Later that day after morning shootarounds]

"Working hard or hardly working?" a voice asked behind Khyri as she stood at the water cooler, having a drink. The voice was familiar to her, almost recognizing it as she turned around to see Katie Lou standing there with a smile.

"Katie! Girl, what's up? How you doing?"

"I'm good, I'm good. I really can't complain. How you doing though? Seen your last game, you was looking beat up for a girl coming back home for the first time in who knows how long!"

"I'm fine sis, it's nothing that can keep me down, I'm already feeling better."

"That's good to hear. Almost had me worried."

"Worried about what? You know I'm tough as they come." Khyri jested. "But what's up? What you doing here?"

"Well, I had to come see you. Some news happened and I wanted you to be the first to know."

"What? Wait, you're pregnant again? Girl, congrats!! You didn't have to come all the way here to tell me that!"

Katie stood there smiling hard, trying to contain her laughter. "No silly, I'm not pregnant. After having my daughter, I felt one was enough for me."

"Awwwe, how's my baby girl doing? I haven't seen her in so long."

"She's doing great. I still can't believe she'll be six this August!!"

"Oh my gosh, was I away that long???"

"I was away too Khy. After having her, I was so caught up in being a mom. I honestly at one point thought I was really done and ready to move on and be a full-time mom. Just being around her, watching her grow, seeing her learn and come into her own, it was so satisfying, yet I felt incomplete in a way."

"What you mean Kate? What's wrong?" Khyri asked.

"Nothing's wrong anymore!" Katie says with a huge smile. "Come with me real quick! I'll let him explain."

Katie grabs Khyri hand and scurries over to Coach Adrian Boyd, who was giving a pep talk to the 6th overall rookie, DeWanna Adrien.

"Hey Coach, you want to tell her?"

"I thought you wanted to tell her your-self?" Coach Boyd retorted.

"Tell me what?" Khyri asked confusingly.

"Come on, make the announcement!" Katie excitingly requested.

"Okay, listen up everyone!" Coach Boyd loudly grabbing everyone's attention. "I like you to meet your newest member of the team as of today, Katie Lou Samuelson!"

Without hesitation, the crowd was in awe, hearing the news that former Sparks legend, Katie Lou was unretired, even moreso, has signed with the Nashville Soul.

"Wait, wait, wait, you serious??? You're playing right, Kate???" Khyri asked in shock.

"Nope!" Katie proceeds to unbutton her dressed shirt in front of Khyri, unrevealing her official jersey underneath, reading her number, #33. Khyri jaw drops, screaming at the top of her lungs as she jumps around in excitement.

"What?!?! I can't believe it!!" Khyri shouted as she hugged Katie, almost coming to tears between the two. While some the team congratulated the new signee, a couple didn't take kindly to the situation. A player of Katie's caliber, it meant someone is losing their starting job.

"I'm so happy to be here, and for the record, no, I'm not taking anyone's spot. I like to contribute anyway I can, coming off the bench or not, but rest assure, I'm not here to step on anyone's toes."

"Girl, please! What you talking about? You know what this means??? Me and you, back together!!" Khyri exclaimed.

"More rings and cha-ching!" Katie joked.

"You got that right!"

"Hey, ladies, I'm happy to see all the enthusiasm for the returning Katie Lou, but let's save some of that energy for tonight's runs. Samuelson, I'll see you tonight for scrimmage?" Coach Boyd mention.

"I wouldn't miss it!" Katie says while one-arm hugging the ever-so-happy Khyri.

Katie and Khyri spent the afternoon talking and catching up on their personal lives and what not. Khyri learned the reason for Katie coming out of retirement was because of Khyri her-self. After Khyri had departed from the WNBA, Katie lost her best-friend that wasn't her sister, Karlee. On her own, Katie wouldn't win another WNBA title, but life continued into motherhood and brought an halt to her career. With time spent away, Katie enjoyed being a parent, enjoyed being a wife. But she felt her passion couldn't rest entirely. Now age 37, Katie longs to finish her career on her terms...

"So, the way I see it, I wanna end things on my terms. I see no better way than to end it by my girl's side, doing things like we used to do."

"I don't know about all that, sis, I'm 35. I don't even stay up past 10pm anymore." Khyri joked. "Man, I'm so glad you're hear. I really can't believe you came back because of me."

"You do know they were calling us the WNBA's "Jordan & Pippen" back in the day, right? I mean, we've been rocking together since Seattle. I remember when you came in and Jordin gave you hell!" Katie laughed.

"Man, don't bring that up. I still got beef with her" Khyri chuckled. 'But yeah, I remember. We did that year right for Sue. Then we went to L.A., took over. It was a hell of a run back then... We was a real dream team."

"We can be that again." Katie suggested. "Maybe we just need the right pieces."

"I thought about that. But I wanted to give these girls a fighting chance. These girls are super young here. Other than us, Cameron Brink, who's gone for the season, is the only one over 33 of age. Ja'Tavia is hitting 30 soon, her and Elena. But they still have a lot of mileage to give to the game. I don't know how much I got left my-self."

"Stop it, Khy. You out here balling. You just dropped 50 points in L.A. You're basically breaking your back ten times over to keep this team afloat." Katie made some points to Khyri. Since Khyri returned, she hasn't scored less than 25 points in a game yet. "These girls should've been stepped up, and I'm quite astonished that they haven't lived up to expectation."

"Cut them some slack, sis. We wasn't the most cohesive team starting out. But we're doing far better than I could ever imagine."

"Well, I'm here now. And I do not know how much miles left I have, but however many you need, you got it."

"Sis, I love you so much, I swear I couldn't ask for a better friend than you. Even after all these years. Feel like I've been a bad friend for not keeping up with you."

"You should, but I won't hold it to you. Life happens. But if you really feel that bad, then you can always make it up to me."

"Okay, name your price."

And fro there, the duo of legends past, has returned to the WNBA. What started out as a boon in Seattle, became a deadly combination to be reckoned with in Los Angeles. Now in Nashville, it's only a question if they can re-ignite that synchronization they once used to flourish their success in the history of the WNBA...

[The JZA]

[Agent]

Nothing like bringing your players best friends back together for another go at the gold #Reunited

[The JZA]

[The JZA]

Nothing like bringing your players best friends back together for another go at the gold #Reunited

Something had told me to peruse the FA pool all the way to the bottom, and there she was. I had thought she retired-retired, but she was still around.

They're about to rip through the whole league's ass

[chosenone58]

Not sure if you're in awe or you're worried lol

Definitely awe.

And now we got Katie back..... it's over

[The JZA]

Not sure if you're in awe or you're worried lol

Definitely awe.

And now we got Katie back..... it's over

[The JZA]

[The JZA]