Fans were distraught and surprised when the Golden State Valkyries waived rookie Shyanne Sellers before the 6'2" guard had the chance to play in a preseason game. Sellers was picked up by the Atlanta Dream on waivers within 48 hours, which gave her the opportunity to make a final roster in the league — but her performance on Saturday against the Indiana Fever left a lot to be desired, and for some, it became clear why Valkyries' Coach Nakase and GM Ohemaa Nyanin waived her in the first place.
Unfortunately for Sellers, the Atlanta Dream announced Monday, May 12, that the team had waived her — and it's not clear what her next steps might be.
Shyanne Sellers might still be struggling with an injury
Despite her family's insistence to the contrary, Sellers — who was known for her versatility during her final season with Maryland, where she averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 2024 — didn't appear at full health during Saturday's game. Sellers sprained her right knee back in January.
The injury didn't seem to give Sellers too much trouble during the team's March Madness run this year, and she had a few extra weeks to rest after Maryland lost to South Carolina on March 28. But Sellers didn't participate in Kelsey Plum's Dawg Class this year, and she didn't play in the Lily Women's College All-Star Combine or Game in Tampa.
When Sellers subbed in Saturday she appeared to be hobbling a bit on the leg, and her pace of play wasn't what it has been in the past for Maryland. It's unclear if this is simply a typical rookie adjustment to the league issue, or if something else is going on.
The Golden State Valkyries play a fast-paced game
Unfortunately, Sellers wasn't able to find a permanent home on the Dream roster, and Saturday's performance also showed that she wasn't meant to be on the Valkyries. The team plays a fast-paced game of basketball, and that isn't necessarily her strongest suit. That doesn't mean Sellers doesn't deserve to be in the league, but it does justify Nakase and Nyanin's decision, as their responsibility is to keep players who fit the team's system.
The distinction is an important one to make because some fans bordered on xenophobia when questioning the team's decision to waive Sellers in the first place.
As WNBAZodiac wrote on X, "Shyanne Sellers deserved better. So do a lot of college players sitting at home right now, watching rosters get filled with names they’ve never played beside, and wondering what they were working toward. This isn’t bitterness. It’s grief. For a dream the W sold and quietly rewrote."
It's also important to note the WNBA has never claimed that adding teams is about supporting collegiate talent in the United States — expansion is about bringing the strongest talent possible to the WNBA and providing opportunities for as many teams as possible to play in front of as many fans as possible.
The Valkyries, in particular, boast a lot of tremendous talents who will likely impress American fans less familiar with their games. Hopefully those fans will pause and wait to see how the team comes together before making their final judgements.