Janelle Salaün put together an outstanding rookie season, helping the Golden State Valkyries to their historic playoff appearance with 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. A year later, the 24-year-old is playing even better, putting up 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
Salaün is firmly establishing herself as one of the best shot-makers in the W—and a serious threat to Team USA on the international stage. She can get a 3-pointer up over about any defender and is currently shooting 40.2% on 7.1 attempts per game.
The Valkyries found a real gem in free agency—a young player who is ready to contribute to a winning team now but still has plenty of room to grow—because of a decision other WNBA teams made five years ago. Salaün was draft eligible in 2021, but no team picked her (or signed her as a free agent between 2022 and 2024)—a decision that doesn’t look great now that most of the 2021 draft picks aren’t even in the W anymore and Salaün is just starting to tap into her potential.
2021 was not a great draft
Teams drafted 36 players in 2021. Only nine of those players are currently playing in the league, and most of them are late picks who managed to stick around despite the odds. Awak Kuier is the only lottery pick from that year who is still—or rather again—in the WNBA. She rejoined the Dallas Wings after a few years of sitting out the W season and developing in Europe. Michaela Onyenwere and Iliana Rupert are the only other first-round picks on a roster this season, although the latter isn’t playing due to pregnancy.
Second-round picks Dana Evans, Natasha Mack, and DiJonai Carrington carved out roles for themselves in the WNBA, and Raquel Carrera just made her debut with the New York Liberty.
Last but not least, Maya Caldwell went from entering the league as a third-round pick to playing backup minutes for a 10-2 Minnesota Lynx team that comfortably sits atop the standings. Marine Fauthoux, another third-round pick, made her debut as a development player for the Liberty three games ago.
Five years later, Salaün looks like someone who clearly should’ve been a first-round pick in this draft. She has been more productive than any of the 2021 draftees playing this season and is still younger, with more room to develop. However, her potential probably wasn’t as obvious to WNBA teams back in 2021. Salaün signed her first pro contract for the 2018-19 season and played and produced little before a breakout year with Villeneuve d’Ascq in the 2021-22 campaign.
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