Valkyries, Storm complete surprise WNBA Draft trade

The two teams made a deal involving rising star Flau'Jae Johnson on draft night.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:03am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the dynamic energy and shifting perspectives of the trade.A bold trade shakes up the WNBA landscape as a rising star changes teams on draft night.Seattle Today

The Golden State Valkyries and Seattle Storm completed a surprising trade during the 2026 WNBA Draft, with the Valkyries acquiring rising star Flau'Jae Johnson from the Storm. The details of the trade have left many analysts and fans puzzled.

Why it matters

Flau'Jae Johnson was considered one of the top prospects in this year's draft class, so her sudden move to a new team is a significant development that will impact the competitive landscape of the WNBA. The trade also 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 unexpected trade shakes up the WNBA landscape, with the Valkyries making a bold move to acquire a top talent like Flau'Jae Johnson while the Storm appear to be retooling their roster. The long-term implications of this deal will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.