On Monday night, many were taken aback when Frauge Johnson, the champion from LSU, was traded to the Seattle Storm shortly after being picked eighth by the Golden State Valkyries in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
The Storm obtained Johnson’s draft rights in a deal that sent Golden State’s draft rights for Marta Suarez and a future second-round pick in 2028 back to the Valkyries. Suarez had been chosen first in the second round, with the 16th overall pick.
“I need some time to articulate my thoughts. I can’t share every detail right now,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin mentioned during the post-draft press conference. “Part of it is that I’m just worn out, and another part is being respectful when discussing other players and how they contribute to the team.”
Nyanin also avoided questions regarding the salary cap situation resulting from the trade.
“I’m not discussing that or commenting on it. It’s complicated to answer your question due to the salary cap constraints,” Nyanin stated.
He further noted that the Valkyries had been interested in Suarez for some time.
“Marta is tough and unafraid,” Nyanin highlighted in a news session. “We’ve had our eyes on her for quite a while. She has a high basketball IQ and her charisma is impressive… We believe she’ll be a great addition.”
Nyanin later explained to ESPN that the team had finalized the draft-night trade before they announced the selection, clarifying that it had “nothing to do” with Johnson.
Fans at The Shed in Hudson Yards, New York, reacted with surprise when WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the draft and the subsequent trade involving the 17th pick.
Storm general manager Talitha Rea expressed that the team was eager to seize the chance to enhance their roster during the draft.
“We didn’t expect Johnson to still be available at that stage,” Rea shared in her post-draft comments. “We had been discussing it, so when the moment came closer, I felt a surge of excitement when it became real.”
Rea emphasized that Johnson would be crucial to the team’s future plans.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing how this unfolds. Johnson will not only help us this season, but she’ll also play a key role as we build for what’s ahead,” Rea added.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s family quickly swapped out their Valkyries hats for bright yellow Storm caps from their seats.
In her senior year at LSU, Johnson averaged 14.2 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals, capping off her season with a game-winning three-pointer against Duke in the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16.
The rapper played a significant role in leading LSU to its first national championship in 2023, defeating Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes with a score of 102-85.
