The Golden State Valkyries don't play in their first preseason game until Tuesday, May 6, but they've already waived one of their 2025 draft picks. On Saturday, the team announced it waived No. 17 pick Shyanne Sellers.
This time of the year is one of the most difficult in the WNBA because so many players are cut. Fans have called for WNBA expansion for years, and got their wishes granted with the Valkyries starting their inaugural season. Two more teams -- Toronto and Portland -- will begin play in 2026. However, Golden State waiving Sellers was a reminder that a lot of work still needs to be done.
Teams can invite 20 players to training camp, but have to trim that number to 12 when finalizing the roster. It's not that fans aren't used to players being cut, but Sellers being waived by an expansion team before playing in a preseason game was surprising. Former No. 1 overall pick Chiney Ogwumike disagreed with the timing of Golden State's decision, and she made it known on ESPN.
Chiney:
— Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@VanshayM) May 4, 2025
“Maybe give someone an opportunity to play a preseason game before you make a decision.”
👀 pic.twitter.com/l3kavIGOkR
Chiney says Valkyries decided to waive Shyanne Sellers too soon
Head coach Natalie Nakase said Sellers did everything the Valkyries asked of her, making the decision even more puzzling. She added that the 12 players Golden State will keep might not be as talented as those who are cut, but they fit the roster better.
Natalie Nakase on this move: “she picked up everything we asked her to, did everything that we asked. It’s just that I have to choose the best 12 that are going to fit. Doesn’t mean it’s the most talented, it means it’s the best 12.” https://t.co/3Ch1TuGuDX
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) May 3, 2025
The Valkyries waived Sellers less than three weeks after they drafted her. If she did everything right, but wasn't the best fit, why draft her? One would think Golden State would at least let the player it selected a few weeks earlier see some preseason action before making that decision. The Valkyries' inaugural season will be a learning experience for everyone involved, but this isn't the kind of position they should've wanted to put themselves in.
Sellers was projected to be a top-10 pick, but she fell down the draft board because of a knee injury she suffered in a game against Texas in January. Nakase didn't mention anything about Sellers' knee being an issue. Sellers' sister said the guard is "fully healthy."
She was a steal for Golden State at No. 17, with GM Ohemaa Nyanin even saying the team was surprised she was still on the board. Maybe another team will pick up Sellers, as it's evident that she is worthy of being a WNBA player.