With their first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Golden State Valkyries selected LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson. I thought it was an absolutely perfect pick for the Valkyries, who lucked out when the charismatic and well-rounded All-American fell to them at No. 8 overall.
Apparently, the Valkyries didn’t actually agree with that assessment. While the second round of the draft was underway, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the Valkyries had traded Johnson to the Seattle Storm. The Valkyries are receiving
Marta Suarez, who was the 16th overall pick in the draft, as well as a second-round pick in 2028.
Suarez is a 6’3 wing who spent the 2025-26 season playing for TCU, where she averaged 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, and shot 37.0% from deep. Prior to her lone season at TCU, Suarez spent two years playing at Cal, so she’s plenty familiar with the Bay Area. She also played for two years at Tennessee, and redshirted the 2021-22 season with an injury. She gained a lot of national attention for a dynamic showing in the NCAA tournament, which included a 33-point, 10-rebound performance in the Sweet Sixteen.
Her well-rounded game should fit very well on the Valkyries, as will her combination of size and floor spacing. That’s a dreamy fit in Natalie Nakase’s system. That said, there will be pressure on the Valkyries to get the most out of Suarez, as Johnson was already a fan favorite in her 30 or so minutes as a member of Golden State.
