Flau’Jae Johnson will not be playing for the Golden State Valkyries.
In a surprising trade during the 2026 WNBA Draft Monday, April 13, the Valkyries sent the draft rights of Johnson – who Golden State selected eighth overall – to the Seattle Storm for the draft rights of TCU wing Marta Suárez and a 2028 second round pick.
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Johnson fills a need for the Storm as the team needs depth in the backcourt following the departure of all-star Skylar Diggins via free agency. Seattle also drafted Duke point guard Taina Mair 14th overall. Mair and Johnson faced off in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament this season, with the Blue Devils coming out on top thanks to a 3-point buzzer beater from Ashlon Jackson.
Suárez is a 6-foot-3 wing who can play inside and out. She was an All-Big 12 selection for the Horned Frogs after averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 37% from 3-point land. Seattle picked her 16th overall — eight spots after Golden State took Johnson — with the first pick in the second round.
On the surface, the trade seems like a big win for Seattle, as they get a first-round caliber talent in Johnson for the essentially two second round picks.
Johnson averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game as a senior at LSU while shooting a career-best 39.3% from beyond the arc. For her career, she shot 47% from the floor and 75% from the free throw line.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA Draft trade: Flau’Jae Johnson traded from Golden State to Seattle
