While securing a spot in any professional league is a challenge, the WNBA is a different battle. A fierce competition, credited not just to the growth of women’s basketball but also to the structural limits of the league. With only 12 roster spots available on each of the 13 teams, the league only offers around 156 spots. Combine that with the hard salary cap, and teams often sign only 11 players. Hence, many athletes good enough to play in the WNBA don’t end up on a roster. And with no G League equivalent, many of these players end up overseas.
The addition of Golden State Valkyries did bring some relief, but not a significant one. Many are still waiting for next year when the league will welcome Toronto Tempo and an unnamed Portland team to the mix. Yet, the real game changer can only be brought through the CBA. Till then, though, a rookie’s path is a rocky one in the W.
The latest rookie who fell victim to the constraints of the WNBA is Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers. She is now the first player to be cut from the WNBA expansion team’s training camp roster. Drafted 17th by the Valkyries, it appeared unlikely they would let Shyanne go, especially considering GM Ohemaa Nyanin’s comments at the draft. “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,” she had said.
Adept at playing the forward as well, the Maryland graduate was projected to go as high as No. 5 in early mock drafts but slipped to the second round due to concerns about a knee injury she suffered during the college season. She struggled to defend throughout the postseason. However, that likely didn’t play a role in her being waived off, as she clarified earlier this week that she was feeling fine physically.
Am told Sellers passed medical exams before leaving Maryland and with the Valkyries. The knee wasn’t an issue/factor in the decision. Was diagnosed with a PCL sprain against Texas in late January. 12 week recovery. Was moving fine in camp. https://t.co/Y9pNkSRI4a
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) May 3, 2025
When the Valkyries didn’t poach any superstars during free agency, it appeared they may be more interested in building for the future. But the decision to let Sellers leave abruptly and without a chance has garnered strong reactions from fans across the league. Sellers will be on waivers for 48 hours, and if she isn’t claimed, she will become a free agent.
The league faces criticism
Some felt enraged at the state of the league, while others pointed towards the Valkyries. It had merely been 20 days since Golden State secured Sellers at the draft, and the idea of letting a versatile talent like her walk away cited strong reactions against the Valkyries.
“This league is so cruel”, posted Women Hoops USA on ‘X’. Shyanne’s reality of the league might be disheartening, but it’s not unprecedented. Just 17 players drafted in 2022 made an opening day roster. The number has since declined, with only 15 players doing so in 2023 and 13 players in 2024.
The brutality of the league only seems magnified when your contract happens to be unguaranteed. While a guaranteed contract ensures a paycheck even if you’re waived, the case is bleak for players with unguaranteed contracts. While Shyanne could still receive her rookie scale salary if she gets claimed off of waivers in the next 48 hours, the expiration of this period would lead to her becoming a free agent and the termination of her rookie contract.
Another user kept it fairly simple. “Yeah the league needs more teams because this is out of pocket,” they posted. While the Valkyries offer some improvement to the talent bottleneck, the real relief will come next year. The new franchises in Toronto and Portland enter the league in 2026, increasing the number of roster spots from 156 to 180. The league, also pushing for increased roster sizes, could look to adopt the NBA’s model, where 15 players make the cut initially. Although the NBA further allows three more roster spots for players on two-way contracts, the WNBA should seek to expand gradually. With women’s basketball projected to be the highest-earning women’s sport in 2025, the fate of the league and the players could be decided by the new CBA.
While some fans were upset with the news, others just had a hard time wrapping their head around it. “I feel like I need an explanation as to why?” posted a fan. The move is surprising, given that Sellers appeared to be one of the most skilled players on the Valkyries’ roster. She has size and showed the ability to shoot 3-pointers at a high clip at Maryland.
Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post also confirmed the problem wasn’t with her knee, as was being assumed, leaving fans puzzled with the move. Rightly so as well, considering the Valkyries haven’t yet played their first preseason game. Shedding light on the situation, coach Natalie Nakasa of the Valkyries said, “She did everything that we wanted her to, It’s just that I have to choose the best 12 that fit. It doesn’t mean it’s the most talented. It means it’s the best 12, and we have a very competitive camp, and so had to make a decision on that line.”
Another user pointed to the absurdity of the decision, saying, “Doesn’t even deserve a preseason game? Yikes. Wnba does you dirty”. This move caught many fans by surprise, especially since the Valkyries have not even had a preseason game as of now. The initial announcement did not specify any reason, leading to natural speculation regarding what went into the roster decision. However, later on, space was cited as one factor. That could be it since the team has way too many guards. Seven of the 18 signed players are guards, including favorites like Tiffany Hayes and Kate Martin. However, still, the Valkyries will need players with depth, especially guards, in June when several players will play in the EuroBasket tournament, so if she goes unsigned, they could attempt to bring her back.
The post “So Cruel”: Calls Mount Against WNBA as Basketball Community Left Dumfounded About Golden State Valkyries’ Decision Over Rookie appeared first on EssentiallySports.
