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.