In a move that has WNBA insiders scratching their heads, the Golden State Valkyries' puzzling draft-day trade just took another unexpected turn. Just three weeks after acquiring rookie Marta Suárez in a deal that sent No. 8 overall pick Flau'jae Johnson to the Seattle Storm, the Valkyries have waived Suárez—raising even more questions about one of the most talked-about transactions in recent league history.

The saga began on draft night when Golden State selected Johnson, a dynamic guard out of LSU, with the eighth pick. But in a pre-arranged swap that caught many off guard, Johnson was immediately traded to Seattle for Suárez—the No. 16 pick—and a 2028 second-round draft pick. The deal felt lopsided on paper, and it only grew more confusing when Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin struggled to explain the rationale on draft night. "I'm going to take a beat to be able to eloquently give a response," Nyanin said, adding that she was "exhausted" and wanted to be "thoughtful" when discussing players' abilities.

Meanwhile, Johnson has been making the Storm look like the clear winners of the swap. The rookie has already impressed in Seattle's preseason, racking up 32 combined points in just 43 minutes of action across two games. Storm GM Talisa Rhea couldn't hide her excitement, noting the team "didn't think that she would be available" at No. 8.

Back in Golden State, Nyanin initially expressed confidence in Suárez, calling the Tennessee, Cal, and TCU alum "fierce" and "fearless," and insisting she would be a "great fit" for the Valkyries. But Saturday's roster update—which also included waiving center Mariella Fasoula, guards Ashlon Jackson, Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, and Miela Sowah, and forward Cate Reese—suggests that fit may not have materialized as hoped.

With a crowded forward rotation that includes veteran Kayla Thornton, it's possible the Valkyries simply had too many bodies at the position. Still, for a franchise that made such a bold draft-night gamble, the quick turnaround on Suárez only adds another layer of intrigue to a story that's far from settled.