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Flau'jae Johnson draft-day trade gets more confusing after Valkyries waive Marta SuĂĄrez
TL;DR
The Golden State Valkyries waived rookie Marta SuĂĄrez after trading Flau'jae Johnson to the Seattle Storm in a surprising draft-day deal. The trade, which included a 2028 second-round pick, has left many questioning the Valkyries' decision-making.
Key points
- Golden State Valkyries waived Marta SuĂĄrez after a trade
- Flau'jae Johnson was traded to the Seattle Storm
- The trade included a 2028 second-round pick
- Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin did not explain the trade reasoning
Mentioned in this story
Ohemaa Nyanin
Golden State ValkyriesSeattle StormFlau'jae JohnsonMarta SuĂĄrez
One of the most eyebrow-raising trades in recent WNBA history just got a little more weird. On Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries announced that they had waived Marta SuĂĄrez, the rookie they acquired after giving up Flauâjae Johnson in a draft-day trade with the Seattle Storm.
Johnson was selected No. 8 overall by the Valkyries in the 2026 WNBA Draft, while SuĂĄrez was taken by the Storm at No. 16. But a stunning, pre-arranged trade swapped the two rookies, with Golden State also receiving a 2028 second-round pick.
The Valkyries didnât exactly seem thrilled after the trade, with general manager Ohemaa Nyanin repeatedly declining to explain the reasoning behind the deal.
âI think I'm going to take a beat to be able to eloquently give a response,â Nyanin said. âI don't have a lot of detail to share. One, because I'm exhausted. Two, because I want to be very thoughtful when I'm talking about other humans and their basketball abilities and how they would or would not show up for our squad."
Storm GM Talisa Rhea told reporters that taking Johnson was âexcitingâ because they âdidn't think that she would be availableâ at No. 8. Johnson has been thriving already with her new team, scoring 32 combined points in 43 minutes of play across the Stormâs two preseason games.
Still, Nyanin said on draft night that she and the team were happy with SuĂĄrez, calling the Tennessee, Cal and TCU alum âfierceâ and âfearless,â and saying that she would be a âgreat fitâ for the Valkyries.
Q&A
Why did the Golden State Valkyries waive Marta SuĂĄrez?
The Valkyries waived Marta SuĂĄrez shortly after acquiring her in a trade for Flau'jae Johnson, but the specific reasons for this decision have not been clearly explained.
What was the trade involving Flau'jae Johnson and Marta SuĂĄrez?
Flau'jae Johnson was traded from the Golden State Valkyries to the Seattle Storm, while Marta SuĂĄrez was acquired by the Valkyries in exchange, along with a 2028 second-round pick.
What did Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin say about the trade?
Ohemaa Nyanin expressed exhaustion and a desire to be thoughtful in discussing the trade, but declined to provide specific details about the reasoning behind it.