Flau'jae Johnson draft-day trade gets more confusing after Valkyries waive Marta Suárez
Golden State called Suárez a "great fit" after acquiring the rookie in a trade with the Storm for Johnson, but now the Valkyries are letting her go.
One of the most eyebrow-raising trades in recent WNBA history just got a little weirder. Golden State waived Marta Suárez, the rookie it acquired after giving up Flau’jae Johnson in a draft-day trade with the Seattle Storm, the Valkyries announced Saturday. Roster Update: The Golden State Valkyries have waived center Mariella Fasoula, guards Ashlon Jackson, Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, and Miela Sowah, and forwards Cate Reese and Marta Suárez.
pic. twitter. com/3s4x6eCYrr — Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) May 2, 2026 Johnson was selected No.
8 overall by the Valkyries in the 2026 WNBA Draft, while Suárez 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 didn’t exactly seem thrilled after the trade, with general manager Ohemaa Nyanin repeatedly declining to explain the reasoning behind the deal. “I think I'm going to take a beat to be able to eloquently give a response,” Nyanin said. “I don't have a lot of detail to share.