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Golden State Valkyries, Seattle Storm trade draft rights of Flau'jae Johnson, Marta Suarez

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh04/14/26griffin_mcveigh

A trade has completely taken over the conversation at the 2026 WNBA Draft. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the Golden Stat Valkyries are sending the draft rights over to Flau’jae Johnson to the Seattle Storm. In return, Marta Suarez will be making her way to the Pacific Northwest.

The Valkyries will also be receiving a second-round pick in the 2028 WNBA Draft. You could hear some shocked reactions coming from New York City. ESPN’s panel for the evening was certainly part of that, as Ryan Rucco, Rebecca Lobo, and Andraya Carter were just like everyone else attending.

As for why the trade went down, we are not going to find out — at least on Monday night. Golden State Ohemaa Nyanin would not reveal the thought process behind sending Johnson and a second-round pick to Seattle for Suarez.

“When I’m ready to speak more about what the strategy is behind it, I’ll speak on it,” Nyanin said via Kenzo Fukuda of Clutch Points. “… I don’t really speak about my strategy publicly because other teams are watching.”

Reporters certainly attempted to get some information. Fukuda went on to say Nyanin would not comment on the trade despite being asked multiple times.

“Questions regarding the Valkyries trading the draft rights to Flau’Jae Johnson for Marta Suarez and a 2nd rounder were asked on multiple occasions, to which Nyanin declined to comment each time,” Fukuda said via X.

More on Flau’jae Johnson and Marta Suarez

Of all of the players to come out of Baton Rouge, Johnson is right up there with the greats. The LSU product put together a great four-year college career. It included a national championship and multiple individual honors. None bigger than being a two-time third-team All-American. She was consistently a top player across women’s basketball.

Suarez played for three different teams during her time in college basketball. Tennessee is where the party got started with a three-year stint on Rocky Top. However, one of those was a redshirt campaign to allow Suarez extra eligibility. A trip to the NCAA transfer portal resulted in two seasons at Cal.

But TCU is going to be the school associated with Suarez, at least when it comes to the WNBA Draft. She put up great numbers with the Horned Frogs, going for 17.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. It’s easy to see why she was a first-round selection on Monday night.