Valkyries' draft-day deal surprised Marta Suarez, too

Former Cal star Marta Suarez loves making a Bay Area return as a new member of the Golden State Valkyries, while second-round pick Ashlon Jackson calls head coach Natalie Nakase 'hardcore.'

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:48am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WNBA basketball game or practice, with the players' forms broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant purple, gold, and other colors, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.The Valkyries' new rookies Marta Suarez and Ashlon Jackson bring a dynamic energy to the Bay Area's WNBA team.Oakland Today

Golden State Valkyries rookies Marta Suarez and Ashlon Jackson were introduced at a press conference in Oakland on Friday, April 17, 2026. Suarez, the 16th overall pick, was surprised to be traded from the Seattle Storm to the Valkyries on draft night. The 6-foot-3 forward from TCU is excited to return to the Bay Area, where she played for two seasons at Cal. Jackson, a 6-foot guard from Duke, was the Valkyries' second-round pick and says head coach Natalie Nakase reminds her of her college coach Kara Lawson, describing Nakase as 'hardcore.'

Why it matters

The Valkyries' draft-night trade for Suarez was one of the bigger surprises of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Giving up the 8th overall pick and a future second-rounder for Suarez and another second-round pick was an unexpected move, as Flau'jae Johnson, the player the Valkyries traded away, was seen as a potential star. However, the Valkyries believe Suarez is a great fit for their team and head coach Natalie Nakase's system.

The details

On draft night, Marta Suarez was celebrating being drafted 16th overall by the Seattle Storm when she heard the crowd gasp and saw her name announced as being traded to the Golden State Valkyries. The Valkyries had traded the 8th overall pick, Flau'jae Johnson, to Seattle in exchange for Suarez and a 2028 second-round pick. Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin declined to provide details on the trade, saying she wanted to be 'thoughtful' when discussing 'other humans and their basketball abilities.' Nyanin said the trade had nothing to do with Johnson's abilities, and that the Valkyries decided to trade down when the players they wanted were not available at 8. Suarez, a 6-foot-3 forward, had a standout season at TCU last year, averaging 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

  • On draft night last Monday, Marta Suarez was celebrating being drafted 16th overall by the Seattle Storm.
  • Suarez was introduced at a press conference in Oakland on Friday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Marta Suarez

A 23-year-old 6-foot-3 forward who was drafted 16th overall by the Seattle Storm but was traded to the Golden State Valkyries on draft night. She played two seasons at Cal before transferring to TCU, where she had a standout senior year averaging 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Ashlon Jackson

The Valkyries' second-round draft pick (23rd overall), a 6-foot guard out of Duke who made the second most three-pointers in school history with 235 and averaged 9.2 points per game over her four seasons as a Blue Devil.

Ohemaa Nyanin

The general manager of the Golden State Valkyries who declined to provide details on the draft-night trade that sent Flau'jae Johnson to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Marta Suarez and a future second-round pick.

Natalie Nakase

The head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, described by Ashlon Jackson as 'hardcore' and a 'big thinker' who will 'pull the very best' out of her players, similar to Jackson's college coach at Duke, Kara Lawson.

Flau'jae Johnson

The 8th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, who was traded by the Valkyries to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Marta Suarez and a future second-round pick. Johnson won a national title as a freshman at LSU and averaged 14.6 points per game across four seasons as a Tiger.

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What they’re saying

“'I turned around, the commissioner came out and I saw my name. I saw something. I saw purple,' Suarez said Friday as she was introduced in a press conference. 'As soon as I saw purple I said, 'No way.''”

— Marta Suarez, Valkyries Rookie

“'She's hardcore,' Jackson said. 'The way she goes about the game, she's a big thinker. She's going to pull the very best out of you and that's something I cherished in my four years at Duke. To be able to experience that here will be amazing.'”

— Ashlon Jackson, Valkyries Rookie

What’s next

The Valkyries will continue to integrate Marta Suarez and Ashlon Jackson into the team's system and prepare them for the upcoming WNBA season.

The takeaway

The Valkyries' surprising draft-night trade for Marta Suarez highlights the team's belief that she is a great fit for their system and head coach Natalie Nakase's coaching style. While the move was unexpected, the Valkyries are excited to add Suarez's talent and Bay Area ties to their roster as they look to build on their recent success.