Valkyries Cut the Player They Acquired in Flau’jae Johnson Deal

The Golden State Valkyries just cut the rookie they received in a controversial draft-night trade—at least for now.

On Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries waived Marta Suárez, the No. 16 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, whom the team acquired on draft night last month from the Seattle Storm alongside a 2028 second-round pick in exchange for Flau’jae Johnson, the No. 8 pick.

Draft-Night Drama

The Valkyries were scrutinized for the trade with many perceiving the return of two second-round picks for Johnson, projected to go in the top six in many draft boards, as weak. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the trade during the draft ahead of the No. 17 pick, and audible gasps were heard on the ESPN broadcast. 

After the draft, Golden State GM Ohemaa Nyanin told ESPN that she made the deal with Seattle before the picks were made: “This had nothing to do with Flau’jae or any specific athlete selection.”

Once the Valkyries were on the clock to select the No. 8 pick, Seattle informed them of their decision to select Johnson. 

“We didn’t think that she would be available at that point,” Storm GM Talisa Rhea said after the draft. 

Asked by reporters after the draft about her decision, Nyanin avoided the question, saying she was too “exhausted” to explain her rationale. She was also asked whether the move had salary cap implications, but said she does not “talk or comment about salary cap.” 

Following the Money

However, the decision to waive Suárez is another sign that the cap may have factored into the trade.

The Valkyries have 10 players under contract, according to Her Hoops Stats. With two open roster spots remaining, Golden State has about $816,490 left—and this does not include the $380,219 owed to 2025 draft pick Justė Jocytė.

The team would be left with one full-time roster spot remaining and less than $450,000 in cap space for the 2026 season. Suárez would have made $270,000 this year, meaning she would’ve fit under the team’s cap this year. But Golden State still has Laeticia Amihere and Kaitlyn Chen, two players on last season’s roster, under training camp deals.

In another possible twist, Suárez could still find herself back with Golden State as the WNBA has added two developmental spots per team starting this season. Teams must waive players and allow them to clear waivers before they can be signed on as developmental players.

Head coach Natalie Nakase said Sunday that the team is “still evaluating” whether one of the two developmental slots will go to Suárez, assuming she is not signed by another team.

Developmental players are not considered under a team’s salary cap.

Bigger Priorities?

The Valkyries may also be considering the future. All-star forward Kayla Thornton and key rotation piece Tiffany Hayes will be free agents next year, and the team may want to re-sign them, or they could try to lure another star in free agency. 

Golden State already showed its ability to attract stars in free agency this offseason, when it signed All-Star Gabby Williams to a three-year, $3.75 million contract.