Storm’s Flau’jae Johnson Trade Keeps Looking Better
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Seattle Storm guard Flau'jae Johnson (4) shoots a free throw against the Golden State Valkyries in the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images [/caption]
The Seattle Storm went into the 2026 WNBA Draft with picks No. 3 and No. 14 in the first round. It was expected to be a second-straight transformative class for the Storm, who took Dominique Malonga No. 2 overall last year.
But by the draft’s end, Storm general manager Talisa Rhea had pulled off a masterclass. She got forward Awa Fam Thiam at No. 3, who has arguably the highest ceiling of any player drafted, and point guard Taina Mair in the first round.
When the Storm went to make their first pick of the second round, No. 16, they already had a deal lined up with the Golden State Valkyries to acquire guard Flau’jae Johnson — the eighth overall pick in the first round.
Seattle took forward Marta Suarez, whom they sent to Golden State in exchange for Johnson, with a package that included a future second-round pick. It was a huge win for the Storm, who were able to fill two major needs and didn’t have to reach for Johnson at No. 3.
The Valkyries waived Suarez on May 2, making the trade look even better for the Storm. Golden State hoped to sign her to a developmental player contract, but the Mercury swooped in and claimed her off waivers instead.
Meanwhile, Johnson is looking like a major steal for the Storm, who gave up virtually nothing to get her. Even with a required 12-player roster and two additional developmental slots, second-round picks regularly don’t make the team they were drafted to. So, there’s a chance neither Suarez nor the future second-rounder ever plays a regular-season game for the Valkyries.
Johnson, on the other hand, might end up being a long-term superstar in Seattle.
Watching Johnson on the court in her two preseason games with Seattle, she looked every bit the part of a blue-chip draft pick. She’s aggressive on both ends of the floor and plays with a swagger that nobody else on the team has.
In 42 total minutes across the two games, Johnson totaled 32 points (10-of-22 FG), seven rebounds, one assist and two steals. She only turned the ball over twice.
As the Storm look ahead to this season and beyond, they have Malonga (20 years old), Fam (19) and Johnson (22) all in the first or second year of their rookie contracts, and that could be a future Big 3 that dominates Climate Pledge Arena for years.
There are other pieces to be excited about, but Johnson is a revelation purely by how the team managed to acquire her. Rhea deserves her praise for the move, especially as the hype around Johnson continues to build and the Valkyries’ acquisition of Suarez looks worse.
Suarez was given 14 minutes in Golden State’s lone preseason game, which was conveniently against the Storm, and totaled five points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The former TCU prospect may still have a place in the WNBA, but after being claimed by Phoenix, it won’t be with Golden State.
Expectations were low for this Storm team after free agency and before the draft. Those expectations skyrocketed after the rookie draft, only to be tempered by Ezi Magbegor, the Storm’s highest-paid player, being sidelined for six to eight weeks.
If Fam can join the team sooner rather than later (still playing overseas with Valencia), Johnson becomes an immediate star and Malonga keeps getting better, the Storm could win many more games than previously anticipated. And that doesn’t even include contributions from Natisha Hiedeman, Jordan Horston and others.
Something is brewing in Seattle, and it feels like the trade for Johnson could be trending toward changing the direction of the Storm franchise.
