The Storm Just Pulled Off a Draft Day Heist Nobody Saw Coming

The Seattle Storm added one of women's basketball's biggest stars less than an hour after she was drafted. The Golden State Valkyries selected LSU's Flau'jae Johnson with the No. 8 pick Monday night, then immediately flipped her to Seattle in a trade that caught everyone off guard. In return, the Valkyries got Marta Suarez, whom the Storm had selected at No. 16 overall, plus a 2028 second-round pick.

How the Storm Made This Happen

This wasn't some last-minute panic move. Storm general manager Talisa Rhea said the team had been actively talking with Golden State about the possibility. "The opportunity to add Flau'jae was really exciting and incredible for us," Rhea said. "We didn't think that she would be available at that point. We had been in conversations, and so, as we got closer to that pick, once it became a reality, just really excited."

Johnson is one of the biggest names in women's basketball. She helped LSU win its first national championship as a freshman and has been a dynamic guard ever since. She's also a rapper signed with Roc Nation, which means her star power extends way beyond the court.

What Seattle Gets, What They're Building

The Storm already had young talent on the roster. They took Awa Fam Thiam with the No. 3 pick on Monday night, and they still have Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick from last year's draft. Add in Ezi Magbegor, who is 26 and entering her seventh season, and you've got a foundation that just got way more interesting.

Rhea was clear about the long-term thinking: "We're really excited how she aligns and helps us this year, but also is going to be a really important piece for us as we're building for the future."

Why Golden State Blinked

Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin wasn't eager to explain the move Monday night. "I'm going to take a beat to be able to eloquently give a response," she said. She also declined to discuss salary cap considerations, keeping the details of the deal close to the vest. But the bottom line? Seattle convinced Golden State to move Johnson within an hour of drafting her.

The Storm are heading into the season with some real momentum. Next up is seeing how Johnson fits with the rest of this young core.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.