If the goal was clarity, this move missed the mark completely. Just weeks after the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Golden State Valkyries have found themselves back in the spotlight, over a decision that’s left the basketball world trying to connect the dots. Because what looked like a calculated draft-night move has now taken a sharp and confusing turn. On draft night, Golden State selected Flau’jae Johnson with the No. 8 overall pick, and everyone felt like it was a perfect fit.

But within moments, that pick was flipped in a pre-arranged trade with the Seattle Storm. In return, the Valkyries received Marta Suárez, who was selected at No. 16, along with a 2028 second-round pick.

“Seattle and I had an agreement to trade picks prior to any athlete selection,” Golden State general manager Ohemaa Nyanin told ESPN after Monday night’s draft. “I want to be super clear about the draft: This had nothing to do with Flau’jae or any specific athlete selection.”

As per reports, Golden State decided to trade down into the second round after the players they were targeting were taken earlier in the first. Seattle then instructed Golden State to select Johnson, and later, with the No. 16 pick Golden State returned the favor by having Seattle pick Marta Suarez.

Of course, the move raised a few eyebrows. The Valkyries passed on a player who averaged 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds during her college career. But the message from the Golden State camp was clear: Suarez was the bigger priority for them.  “Marta is fierce. She’s fearless,” Nyanin said. “We have looked at her for a really long time. … She has a very high basketball IQ. Her high character is off the charts. … We felt like she would be a great fit.”

However, when fans finally came to terms with a move that didn’t make any sense, the Valkyries went on to make another that has left everyone baffled.

In their latest move, the Valkyries officially waived six players in one go, which also includes Suárez. Yes, you heard it right. They have waived the very player they traded  Johnson for.

Alongside Suárez, the franchise also waived Ashlon Jackson (No. 23 pick), Mariella Fasoula, Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Miela Sowah, and Cate Reese as part of a major roster cutdown. That means, from their 2026 draft class, the only player they still hold rights to is Japan’s Kokoro Tanaka, who isn’t even on the active roster.

This move has left everyone asking more questions than ever. Suárez, a 6-foot-3 forward, had a strong college résumé across Tennessee, Cal, and TCU, where she averaged 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in her final season while shooting 37% from three.

She even saw action in the preseason as a Valkyrie, putting up 5 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 14 minutes. Ironically, against the Seattle Storm and Flau’jae Johnson herself.

So, why go to such lengths to land the TCU forward if they were just going to part ways with her? That’s the big question. The good news, though is that it’s not all over for Valkyries fans who still want to see the Spanish forward in action.

The Valkyries could still keep Marta Suarez around if she clears waivers. Under new WNBA rules, teams can carry two “developmental” players alongside the standard 12-player roster. Those players can practice with the team and be activated for up to 12 games. So even if she’s not on the main roster right away, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of her Valkyries journey.

But the fans are still not happy with this move.

What started as confusion quickly turned into disbelief across social media, with many struggling to understand the logic behind trading a top-10 pick, only to waive the return weeks later. For some, it wasn’t just about the move itself, but what it said about the franchise’s decision-making.

WNBA Fans Left Scratching Their Heads as Flau’jae Johnson Trade Takes Another Twist

As soon as the update went viral, fans took to social media to share their thoughts.

One fan joked, “Makes me think they didn’t want Flau’jae because she raps lol 😆.” While another didn’t hold back and wrote, “So y’all traded Flau’jae away for her, and then you turn around and waive her? Thank you for wasting a pick 🙄🙄🙄.”

While there has been no official statement from the franchise on what led them to this decision, Flau’jae Johnson has already started making noise in Seattle.

In just two preseason games, she’s scored a combined 32 points in 43 minutes, showing flashes of exactly why many believed she was a perfect fit for Golden State in the first place.

Even Storm GM Talisa Rhea admitted they didn’t expect Johnson to still be available at No. 8, making the acquisition feel like a steal on their end. Which only deepens the mystery from Golden State’s side.

So the frustration among fans only kept building.

Another fan bluntly wrote, “gave up Flau’Jae for a future 2nd round pick. THIS. IS. AWFUL.” While someone else added, “Traded Flau’jae for someone you waived. This ain’t good!! 🤨”

While many did ask the Valkyries GM, Ohemaa Nyanin, to offer clarity in what made them trade Flau’jae Johnson. She chose her words carefully, saying she wanted time to “eloquently give a response” and be “thoughtful when talking about other humans and their basketball abilities.”

At the time, she did speak highly of Suárez, calling her “fierce,” “fearless,” and a “great fit.” But with this latest move, that belief doesn’t seem to have lasted long behind the scenes.

While, from a roster standpoint, there could be some logic. The Valkyries already have a crowded forward group with players like Kayla Thornton, Laeticia Amihere, and Gabby Williams in the mix. Still, waiving a player you just traded for, especially after giving up a top-10 pick, yeah, that’s going to leave question marks everywhere.

For a franchise that exceeded expectations last season with a 23–21 record and a playoff appearance, this isn’t about one bad move. It’s about a sequence that doesn’t quite add up.

And that’s exactly why the conversation around this decision is only getting louder.

One more fan kept it simple and wrote, “waived the player you traded Flau’jae for…”

So that pretty much sums up where things stand right now. And until the Valkyries offer some real clarity, this is one decision that’s going to keep following them, especially as Flau’jae Johnson continues to grow into the player many thought she’d become in Golden State.