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Less than an hour after the Golden State Valkyries selected Flau’jae Johnson with the eighth pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the team shocked its fans when it announced Johnson had been traded to the Seattle Storm.

Johnson will suit up against the Valkyries in Friday’s season-opener, but the player Golden State acquired in that deal — No. 16 pick Marta Suárez — won’t be playing against her after another surprising transaction.

Suárez was among six players the Valkyries waived Saturday. The team also cut center Mariella Fasoula, forward Cate Reese, and guards Ashlon Jackson, Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, and Miela Sowah.

The Valkyries can bring back Suárez as one of their two developmental players, but after being waived Saturday, other teams have 48 hours to place a claim and add Suárez’s rookie-scale contract to their roster.

If Suárez clears waivers, she could return on a developmental contract, which would enable Golden State to activate her for up to 12 games this season.

If Suárez finds an opportunity elsewhere, it will mark the second consecutive season in which the Valkyries will receive no contributions from the top player they added during the draft. Golden State chose Lithuanian teenager Justė Jocytė with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, but Jocytė chose to remain overseas last year and is expected to join the team in the coming weeks.

Golden State also cut second-round pick Shyanne Sellers during training camp last year. Third-rounder Kaitlyn Chen was left off the team’s initial roster, but returned to the Valkyries during the season as a backup point guard and appeared in 24 games.

Chen’s familiarity with coach Natalie Nakase’s system and ability to provide depth behind star Veronica Burton has provided her with a strong opportunity to earn one of Golden State’s 12 roster spots.

Golden State has 13 players left in camp after Saturday’s cuts, but guard Kate Martin is dealing with a Grade 2 right quad strain. The Valkyries say Martin will be reevaluated this week, but it’s unlikely she’ll be able to play Friday against Seattle.

Most of the Valkyries’ roster is set, but forward Laeticia Amihere is also vying with Chen for a spot. It’s possible the Valkyries could sign Chen or Amihere to a developmental contract, but with Jocytė still competing overseas and Martin dealing with an injury, Golden State may need to figure out a way to keep both players active in the early days of the season.

After the stunning decision to trade Johnson to Seattle in exchange for Suárez and a 2028 second-round draft pick, GM Ohemaa Nyanin declined to comment.

“I would just say that when I’m ready to speak more about what the strategy is behind it, I’ll speak on it,” Nyanin said. “I’ll also say I don’t really speak about my strategy ever publicly because other teams are watching to see what our strategy is.”

Nyanin has yet to provide more details around the team’s curious approach to the draft, but it’s unlikely that waiving Suárez — who has strong Bay Area ties — will be a popular decision among fans.