The Storm Just Pulled Off a Draft Night Heist, and Golden State's GM Wants Everyone to Know It Was Planned

The Seattle Storm walked into Monday night's WNBA draft with a target on their back. Less than an hour after the Golden State Valkyries selected former LSU All-American and 2023 national champion Flau'jae Johnson with the No. 8 pick, the Storm turned around and acquired her in a trade that left everyone in the room audibly gasping. But here's the thing: it wasn't some draft-night scramble. Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin just made sure the entire league knew this move was locked in long before the draft picks were even announced.

The Pre-Draft Deal That Nobody Saw Coming

"Seattle and I had an agreement to trade picks prior to any athlete selection," Nyanin told ESPN right after the draft wrapped. "I want to be super clear about the draft: This had nothing to do with Flau'jae or any specific athlete selection."

Translation: the Valkyries knew exactly what was happening. Storm GM Talisa Rhea confirmed the front offices had been in active conversations about moving up in the draft. "We didn't think that Johnson would be available at that point," Rhea said. "We had been in conversations, and so, as we got closer to that pick, once it became a reality, just really excited."

In return for Johnson, Golden State got Marta Suarez, the 6-foot-3 post player the Storm selected 16th overall in the second round, plus a 2028 second-round pick. When commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the trade just before the No. 17 pick, the audible gasps from the draft floor told you everything: nobody expected this to go down like this.

Nyanin on Why She Made the Move

When asked about her rationale for trading away Johnson after Golden State just drafted her, Nyanin was measured. She said she didn't want to rush into a detailed explanation in that moment, citing exhaustion and wanting to be thoughtful about discussing players' abilities and fit. She also shut down any questions about salary cap implications, simply stating she doesn't comment on those matters.

What she did confirm: Golden State likes Suarez. "Marta is fierce. She's fearless," Nyanin said at her news conference. "We have looked at her for a really long time. She has a very high basketball IQ. Her high character is off the charts."

Who Is Marta Suarez?

Suarez played college ball at Tennessee, Cal, and most recently TCU, where she put up serious numbers. This past season, she averaged 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 37 percent from three. That's the kind of floor spacing big that doesn't grow on trees in this league.

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