Valkyries Acquire Rising Star Flau'Jae Johnson in Surprise WNBA Draft Trade

The Golden State Valkyries and Seattle Storm completed a blockbuster deal during the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 7:03am by

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a WNBA basketball game or draft event, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in navy blue, gold, green, and white, conceptually representing the unexpected trade of a top young player between two rival teams.A surprise draft-night trade sends a rising WNBA star to a new team, reshuffling the league's competitive landscape.San Francisco Today

In a surprising move, the Golden State Valkyries acquired rising star Flau'Jae Johnson from the Seattle Storm during the 2026 WNBA Draft. The details of the trade have not been fully disclosed, but it is known that the Valkyries sent multiple draft picks to the Storm in exchange for Johnson, who was considered one of the top prospects in this year's draft class.

Why it matters

Flau'Jae Johnson's sudden move to a new team is a significant development that will impact the competitive landscape of the WNBA. The trade raises questions about the Storm's long-term plans and the Valkyries' strategy for building a championship contender.

The details

The full terms of the trade have not been disclosed, but it is known that the Valkyries sent multiple draft picks to the Storm in exchange for Johnson. This move comes as a surprise, as the Storm were expected to hold onto Johnson and build around her as a cornerstone of their franchise.

  • The trade was completed during the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13, 2026.

The players

Flau'Jae Johnson

A highly touted prospect who was expected to be a top draft pick, Johnson is now headed to the Golden State Valkyries after spending her first few seasons in the league with the Seattle Storm.

Golden State Valkyries

The Valkyries are a WNBA franchise based in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for their aggressive approach to building a championship-caliber roster.

Seattle Storm

A WNBA franchise based in Seattle, Washington, the Storm have been one of the league's most successful teams in recent years but are now parting ways with one of their top young players.

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What they’re saying

“This trade really caught us all by surprise. Flau'Jae is one of the brightest young stars in the league, and the Valkyries must have given up a lot to pry her away from Seattle.”

— Cory Woodroof, WNBA Analyst

What’s next

The trade will be finalized once the WNBA Draft is completed, and both teams will need to integrate Johnson into their respective rosters and playing styles ahead of the upcoming season.

The takeaway

This surprise trade has the potential to significantly reshape the WNBA landscape, as the Valkyries have acquired a top young talent in Flau'Jae Johnson while the Storm must now recalibrate their long-term plans without one of their rising stars.