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Valkyries' surprising Shyanne Sellers decision raises plenty of questions
The Valkyries are already dealing with questions before tipping off their inaugural WNBA season.
On Saturday, Golden State announced it had waived rookie guard Shyanne Sellers, the team's second-round pick (No. 17 overall) of the 2025 WNBA Draft.
A former four-year Maryland star, Sellers appeared in 130 games (103 starts) from 2021-25. As a senior last season, Sellers averaged 14.4 points and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent, including 40.8 percent on three-point field goal attempts.
Her dismissal raises several questions. Why did Golden State sour on Sellers so soon? Should the Valkyries have done more background research before spending one of their three draft picks on her? What will the team's guard rotation look like this season?
Sellers suffered a knee injury in January and missed two games but was outstanding in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, scoring 28 points in a 111-108 double overtime win over Alabama.
It seems unlikely that an injury during the winter would lead to Sellers' early departure, and even less so that Golden State wouldn't have flagged the injury during the pre-draft process.
When selecting Sellers, Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said, "We were surprised Shyanne was available at 17."
"Her versatility excites us because it gives us an opportunity to slide her in another position or another," Nyanin added. (h/t Marin Independent Journal)
The 6-foot-2 Sellers has the size to guard multiple positions, which would have been useful for the league's first new franchise since 2008.
She was one of two guards Golden State selected in the 2025 draft, along with former UConn guard Kaitlyn Chen (No. 30 overall).
Rookie guards Carla Leite and Mamignan Toure are also vying for a roster spot, along with second-year pros Kate Martin and Julie Vanloo, third-year guard Veronica Burton and 12-year veteran Tiffany Hayes.
Vanloo, who averaged 4.3 assists per game last season for the Mystics, is the most likely option at point guard. Hayes, the 2024 Sixth-Woman of the Year with the Aces, might work back into a starting role at shooting guard. In 2023, she started all 40 games for the Sun and averaged 12.1 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting (36.6 percent from deep).
Golden State isn't expected to do much in 2025 as an expansion team. The Dream, the W's last expansion squad, went 4-30 in their first season. Whiffing on the second draft pick in franchise history could signify what's to come.
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Browns abandon four-QB approach by trading Kenny Pickett
The Cleveland Browns will not be keeping four quarterbacks on their roster heading into the 2025 regular season, after all. The Browns agreed to a deal on Monday to trade Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, according to multiple reports. Cleveland will receive a 2026 fifth-round draft pick in return. Pickett spent just five months in Cleveland, as the Browns acquired him in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles back in March. They gave up Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick in that deal. There had been reports throughout the summer that Pickett was not exactly lighting it up in Browns camp. Joe Flacco has been named Cleveland's Week 1 starter, so rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders will now back the 40-year-old up. The Raiders needed a veteran quarterback after Aidan O'Connell fractured his wrist in the team's preseason finale over the weekend. O'Connell is expected to be sidelined for around two months. Pickett began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him 20th overall in 2022. The former University of Pittsburgh QB started 12 games as a rookie and did not play well, finishing with 2,404 yards, seven touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Pickett started another 12 games for the Steelers in 2023 before being benched and later traded to Philadelphia. In total, Pickett has completed 62.4 percent of his career passes for 4,765 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Key Darian Kinnard Trait Drew Packers to Trade for Super Bowl Winner
Darien Kinnard has won a Super Bowl each of the past three seasons, but that isn’t the only reason the Packers acquired the veteran offensive lineman in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles this past weekend. While general manager Brian Gutekunst, head coach Matt LaFleur, and the Packers obviously would love to see Kinnard’s streak continue with the Lombardi Trophy returning to Green Bay, it was a key trait that sparked the trade. Kinnard’s versatility was a major drawing card for Green Bay, according to Packers reporter Mike Spofford. “Typical of offensive line prospects who interest the Packers,” Spofford writes, for the team’s official website. “Kinnard can play multiple positions. In the recently completed preseason with the Eagles, he played both right guard and right tackle, with more snaps coming at guard. “He also took some snaps at left guard in practice, according to media reports out of Philadelphia.” Kinnard’s versatility gives the Packers the chance to add quality depth across multiple positions, including as an insurance policy if Rasheed Walker or Jordan Morgan fail to perform at a high level at right tackle in the weeks ahead. The 25-year-old played 68 snas at right tackle last season and only allowed one sack, so perhaps the Packers believe he’s capable of providing some stability, when needed, during the upcoming season and beyond.
Giants to waive fan favorite QB
The Giants’ trio of new quarterbacks has pushed Tommy DeVito off the roster. New York is moving on, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. DeVito has made 12 appearances and eight starts across the past two seasons, but the Giants’ actions this offseason led to the expectation he would wind up on the wrong side of the roster bubble. New York added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency before selecting Jaxson Dart in the first round of the draft. Each of those three signal-callers will be on the team’s 53-man roster, Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms. DeVito’s showings during his regular season appearances as well as New York’s preseason finale last Thursday could make him an attractive option on the waiver wire. Teams will be able to put in a claim through Wednesday, the first day in which practice squads will be formed. If DeVito, 27, passes through waivers, he will become a free agent. As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes, DeVito was the subject of trade talks in recent days. Winston has also been the target of a potential deal, but the Giants are prepared to move forward with the former No. 1 pick in a depth capacity. Wilson will handle starting duties to begin the year with Dart looming as a potential replacement depending on how the early portion of the campaign shakes out. This time of year often brings about shuffling at the QB position, and it will be interesting to see how strong DeVito’s market turns out to be. The Raiders found themselves in need of an addition, but their vacancy was filled with the Kenny Pickett trade. The Patriots, meanwhile, have only two passers in the organization at the moment. New England thus represents a candidate for a waiver claim or a free agent push in the event DeVito hits the market.
8 recently cut players who would be perfect for the Lions, including multiple former Lions players
This is such an interesting time for the Detroit Lions and the NFL. There are so many players who are being cut and looking for a new team. As we know, the Lions plan to be on the lookout for players who aren't currently in the building. With that in mind, we've been keeping an eye on all the cuts happening and have 10 players who would be perfect fits for the Lions. Here they are: Edge Nelson Ceasar The Lions had an interest in Ceaser and even met with him ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Ultimately, they didn't draft him, and he wound up signing with the Seahawks. He's bounced around in the NFL and UFL since. Now the Lions have a chance to take a closer look. Ceaser is not your big answer to the edge rusher questions you might have for this team, but he's an intriguing practice squad prospect worth taking a look at. QB Kyle McCord This one is one the Lions should be all over before any other team gets to him. The rookie got drafted by the Eagles in April, and they just did not need him. McCord could be way better off in Detroit with a great cast of quarterback whisperers and more opportunities to get over. McCord is just 22 years old. This is a chance for the Lions to take a prospect who was pretty good at Syracuse last year and grow him into a potential premium backup quarterback. Maybe more. CB Steven Gilmore The former Lions cornerback looked like someone who was going to have a bright future when he made the 53-man roster in 2023. Then he had a rough summer in 2024 and was cut. After a solid spring in the UFL, he was signed by the Cardinals. They cut him on Monday, and now he's back out there. The Lions could use some cornerback depth right now, and Gilmore could be good for that. Detroit could bring him in on the practice squad and see where things go. DL Kyle Peko The Lions had some hopes that Peko could be a strong interior defensive line depth for them last year, and they had him on the 53-man roster. It was going well until he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 6. He spent the summer with the Patriots, but was released after their final preseason game. He would be a good veteran addition to the practice squad. TE Zach Kuntz The Lions spent a lot of time looking at tight ends this offseason, and I'm not sure they really ever found the guy they were looking for. Kenny Yeboah might have been that, but he got hurt, and then rookie Zach Horton didn't really turn out to be ready to go like it seemed like he might be early on. Kuntz is a solid blocking tight end who also has red zone catching ability that's worth taking a look at. Edge Jah Joyner Another young edge rusher who would be worth taking a look at. Joyner just didn't fit with the Raiders, but working with Kacy Rodgers might be a good defensive line coach to learn under for the former Minnesota pass rusher. This would be another practice squad guy. QB Tommy DeVito The Lions are pretty likely to be on the lookout for a practice squad quarterback since it seems pretty clear that Hendon Hooker won't be back in any way. DeVito has starting experience, and there's likely to be a lot of teams interested. If he clears waivers, this one might be worth taking a look at. TE Greg Dulich Here's a guy who could be on the Lions' 53-man roster as the TE3. Dulich is a stronger pass blocker than Shane Zylstra, and he can also be a strong receiving tight end. He caught three touchdown passes in the preseason this summer. There should be a lot of teams looking to claim him, so the Lions might be out of luck, but if they put a claim out there, you never know.
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