Samantha Allison Whitcomb Bio
Samantha Allison Whitcomb (born July 20, 1988) is an American-Australian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is also contracted with Beşiktaş JK of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League. Whitcomb played college basketball for the Washington Huskies before making a name for herself in Australia with the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League (SBL) and the Perth Lynx in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). She made her debut in the WNBA in 2017 and won championships with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020. Whitcomb became an Australian citizen in 2018 and made her debut for the Australian Opals. With the Bendigo Spirit in 2025, she was named WNBL Most Valuable Player and won her first WNBL championship.
Early Life and Background
Samantha Whitcomb was born and raised in Ventura, California. She played soccer as a child before taking up basketball at age 12. Her parents divorced when she was young, and through basketball, she maintained a close relationship with her father despite spending less time together. Whitcomb attended Buena High School in Ventura, where she was a four-year letterwinner and one-year team captain for the basketball team. She won numerous awards during her time at Buena, including the 2004–05 Co-County Player of the Year from the league coaches and the Ventura County Star’s 2005–06 Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year. As a senior in 2005–06, she averaged 17.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.6 steals per game. Whitcomb was also a two-time letterwinner in track and field during her sophomore and junior years, placing second in the league in shot put and first in the county for seeded throwers in 2005.
Path to Basketball
Whitcomb began her collegiate career at the University of Washington in 2006. As a freshman, she appeared in 21 games and received four starting assignments, leading the team with an 81.0 free-throw shooting percentage. Her role increased significantly during her sophomore year, where she earned a Pac-10 All-Defensive honorable mention selection and averaged 11.2 points per game. Over her four-year career at Washington, she scored 1,205 points, ranking 15th all-time in the program’s history. After graduating in 2010 with a degree in history, she started as a coaching intern while playing her final season. Following a brief stint in a WNBA training camp, Whitcomb opted to take the open position of the Huskies’ video coordinator for the 2010–11 season.
Samantha Allison Whitcomb Career
Early Career (2010–2016)
After going undrafted in the 2010 WNBA draft, Whitcomb signed a training camp contract with the Chicago Sky on April 25, 2010, but was waived after three preseason games. She launched her professional career in June 2011 with ChemCats Chemnitz in Germany, where she averaged 11.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. In the following season, she played for the Wolfenbüttel Wildcats, averaging 18.5 points per game before the team went bankrupt. Whitcomb then moved to Australia to play for the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League (SBL), where she earned league MVP honors and helped her team win championships in 2014 and 2015.
Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Whitcomb signed with the Seattle Storm in February 2017, marking her entry into the WNBA. She made her debut on May 13, 2017, and quickly made an impact, scoring a career-high 22 points in a game against the New York Liberty. She played a crucial role in the Storm’s championship victories in 2018 and 2020. In 2020, she averaged a career-high 8.1 points per game, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
Notable Works and Milestones
Whitcomb’s signature work includes her performance in the WNBA, where she won two championships with the Seattle Storm. She was named WNBL Most Valuable Player and Grand Final MVP in 2025 while playing for the Bendigo Spirit, further solidifying her status as a top player in women’s basketball.
Samantha Allison Whitcomb Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Samantha Whitcomb has received numerous nominations for her outstanding performances in basketball, particularly in the WNBA and WNBL.
Samantha Allison Whitcomb Awards Won
Whitcomb has achieved significant recognition in her career, including multiple awards for her performances in the WNBA and WNBL. She was named WNBL Most Valuable Player and Grand Final MVP in 2025, highlighting her impact on the court.
Samantha Allison Whitcomb Family
Samantha Whitcomb is the daughter of Jan and Sander Whitcomb and has an older brother, Jason.
Personal Life
Whitcomb is married to Kate Malpass, a former Willetton Tigers player and a physiotherapist. The couple married in the U.S. in 2017 and had their marriage recognized in Australia when same-sex marriage laws changed. They welcomed their first child in November 2020.
