Storm land Flau’jae Johnson in draft-night swap
In a surprise during the 2026 WNBA draft in New York, the Golden State Valkyries drafted LSU star Flau’jae Johnson at No. 8 but immediately traded her rights to the Seattle Storm for Marta Suárez’s rights and a 2028 second-round pick. Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin said she would not detail salary-cap implications and stressed she wanted to be thoughtful about discussing players, while Storm GM Talisa Rhea said Johnson fits their present and future plans. The move was reportedly agreed upon before the picks were announced. Johnson, who averaged 14.2 points, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals as a senior, helped LSU win the 2023 national title.