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Valkyries' explanation of Flau'jae Johnson trade with Storm remains confusing after WNBA Draft
Valkyries' explanation of Flau'jae Johnson trade with Storm remains confusing after WNBA Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Flau'Jae Johnson only got about an hour to believe she was a member of the Golden State Valkyries before she was traded to the Seattle Storm during the WNBA Draft on Monday night.
And as the rest of the picture came out, things started to make even less sense than they seemed at the time of the trade announcement. esporist.org
The first confusion is simply the deal.
Johnson was the No. 8 pick in the draft. She went to Seattle for the 16th pick of the draft (Marta Suarez), as well as a 2028 second-round pick.
Generally speaking, two second-round picks wouldn't automatically equal a first-round pick in this way, but that's how the Valkyries decided upon the math here.
It got even weirder in the comments Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin made to ESPN afterward.
"Seattle and I had an agreement to trade picks prior to any athlete selection," Nyanin told ESPN. "I want to be super clear about the draft: This had nothing to do with Flau'jae or any specific athlete selection."
That's saying that Golden State had already agreed to the No. 8 pick for the two second-rounders before they were even on the clock.
Sure, teams often make trades well in advance of a draft that include multiple draft picks. But right as the draft arrives?
Almost always, a team will assess who is on the board at its pick before finalizing any trade.
In this case, it sounds like the Valkyries basically knew they were picking for the Storm when they got on the clock.
At least based on how draft-night trades normally go down, that seems to make this one even a bit weirder.
Long-term, it'll be judged more on how Johnson, Suarez and that future pick perform in the WNBA.
But on the night it happened, there was a lot that led to some serious confusion for hoops fans.
More WNBA news:
Eagles reshape WR room: 10 players they could draft in a potential final move to replace A.J. Brown
A post–A.J. Brown era in Philadelphia could begin after June 1.
The writing has been on the wall for months, with multiple reports revealing that Brown is seeking a trade while the Eagles listen to offers.
Philadelphia has not committed to Brown returning in 2026 and reshaped its wide receiver room this offseason with the acquisitions of starting wideouts Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Those additions will make it easier for the Eagles to move on from A.J. Brown.
In a scenario where Brown does not return next season, DeVonta Smith would become Philadelphia’s top wide receiver, while Wicks and Hollywood Brown compete for the other two starting jobs.
The Eagles could make one potential final move in next week’s draft to prepare for a future without A.J. Brown: selecting a wide receiver in the first three rounds.
Having wide receiver depth gives Philadelphia an opportunity to address other key needs in the first round, but make no mistake: The position still needs to be addressed with a premium pick. Wicks is talented but inconsistent, and Hollywood Brown’s best days are behind him.
Wicks could play in the slot if the Eagles draft an outside wide receiver, or the team could draft a slot wideout to push Hollywood Brown. Finding another dynamic playmaker could help Philadelphia’s offense move forward without A.J. Brown.
If the Eagles don’t take a wide receiver in the first round, here are 10 wideouts they could target on Day 2 of the draft:
Germie Bernard (Alabama)
2025 stats: 64 catches for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns
Bernard is one of the safest prospects in the entire 2026 class. He’s not spectacular in any area, but he is good at everything— route running, hands and yards after catch. He is a tall wideout (6-1, 209 pounds) and has decent speed (4.48). Bernard’s average explosiveness could limit him to a possession wide receiver role. He can play in the slot or on the outside.
The Eagles have already acquired that skill set with Wicks and could look to add something different in the draft. Bernard likely won’t rank at the top of their list if that’s the case.
Chris Bell (Louisville)
2025 stats: 72 catches for 917 yards and 6 touchdowns
Calling Bell the next A.J. Brown would be unfair, but there are some similarities. Bell has a similar build to Brown at 6-2, 220 pounds. He also plays the same brand of football, bullying cornerbacks before and after the catch with great strength and using elite explosiveness to turn short routes like crossers into long touchdowns. Bell could have snuck into the first round if he hadn’t suffered a torn ACL in the final month of the 2025 season.
Antonio Williams (Clemson)
2025 stats: 55 catches for 604 yards and 4 touchdowns
Williams could carve out a role in Philadelphia’s offense as a slot wideout. The undersized pass catcher (5-11½, 187 pounds) uses his dynamic short-area quickness and swift movements to create separation. His strong hands and body control help him pull down tough catches.
Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)
2025 stats: 36 catches for 360 yards and 5 touchdowns
Fields is an enormous pass catcher (6-4½, 218 pounds) who snags 50/50 balls and high-points difficult catches over defensive backs. His underwhelming speed (4.61 40-yard dash) and inability to create consistent separation could hold him back.
Ted Hurst (Georgia State)
2025 stats: 71 catches for 1,004 yards and 6 touchdowns
Hurst didn’t face much NFL competition in college, which will cause him to drop to Day 2 of the draft. He is one of the best candidates to outplay his draft slot. He’s big (6-4, 206 pounds), fast and explosive. He burns cornerbacks downfield on go-balls and creates extra yards after the catch.
De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss)
2025 stats: 55 catches for 811 yards and 6 touchdowns
Stribling enters the league with a tremendous ceiling. He possesses great size (6-2, 207 pounds) and speed (4.36 40-yard dash), making him difficult to cover downfield and over the middle.
Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State)
2025 stats: 57 catches for 1,054 yards and 6 touchdowns
Thompson ran the fastest 40 time (4.26) at the NFL Combine among wide receivers, and it shows on tape when he gets over the top of SEC secondaries. He could be a dangerous deep threat in the NFL.
Bryce Lance (North Dakota State)
2025 stats: 51 catches for 1,079 yards and 8 touchdowns
Lance is one of the most physically gifted wide receivers in this draft— he is 6-3, 204 pounds and ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He tracks the ball well on deep passes. He made a lot of plays against weaker competition, raising the question of whether that will translate in the NFL.
Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee)
2025 stats: 62 catches for 1,017 yards and 9 touchdowns
Brazzell joins the list of freaky wide receivers in this draft who have unique upside. The 6-4, 198-pounder is an outstanding vertical target, using his 4.37 speed to burn past cornerbacks.
Zachariah Branch (Georgia)
2025 stats: 81 catches for 811 yards and 6 touchdowns
Branch’s elite speed (4.35 40-yard dash time) was underutilized in Georgia’s offense. He was limited to screens and other underneath passing concepts. The Eagles could maximize his athleticism and playmaking ability by getting him downfield more.
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2008 was Pete Carroll's rock-star NFL draft class at USC
USC football was an NFL draft powerhouse in many different eras. The Trojans were an absolute NFL machine from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s. The program fell on hard times in the 1990s but bounced back in the Pete Carroll era in the early 2000s. In the 2008 NFL draft, USC dominated the first round.
The fun started for USC with Sedrick Ellis at pick No. 7, going to the New Orleans Saints. Keith Rivers went at No. 9 to the Cincinnati Bengals, giving the Trojans two top-10 picks in the 2008 NFL draft.
Later, at pick No. 21, offensive lineman Sam Baker went to the Atlanta Falcons. He was the only one of the four first-round picks to play offense. The other three played defense. End Lawrence Jackson was that third defensive player. He went at No. 28 to the Seattle Seahawks before Pete Carroll went there.
USC teams weren't just good under Pete Carroll; they were physically imposing. It's not a surprise at all that the Trojans produced four players NFL teams felt were worthy of a first-round selection. Such was the dynamism and power of those Pete Carroll teams, which cranked out conference championships and Rose Bowl wins with noticeable regularity.
If USC stuffs a future first round with NFL draft picks, you will know the Trojans are back. Until then, the Men of Troy have to prove they can regain the standard the Carroll teams set two decades ago.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football dominated first round of 2008 NFL draft
UEFA Champions League MD 14: Team News and Live Chat
The UEFA Champions League quarter-finals continue with Matchday 14 as the race to reach the final in Budapest reaches its peak.
After last week’s first legs, four teams are back in action tonight, and every result matters. There is no room for mistakes now. Only strong performances will keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
At Anfield, Liverpool face a big task as they try to overturn a 2–0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain. In Madrid, Atlético take a 2–0 lead into their clash with Barcelona, but the tie is still open with plenty to play for.
Attention also turns to the remaining fixtures. Bayern Munich hold a narrow advantage over Real Madrid, while Arsenal look to finish the job against Sporting CP.
Below is a fixture-by-fixture breakdown of the latest team news, confirmed absentees, and injury doubts ahead of Matchday 14.
Tuesday Matches
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona (2–0 agg.)
Atlético Madrid go into the second leg with a strong advantage after a 2–0 win at the Spotify Camp Nou. Goals from Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth sealed the result, with Barcelona also reduced to ten men after Pau Cubarsí was sent off early.
Atlético are in a strong position, but they are not fully settled. Marc Pubill is suspended, while José Giménez, David Hancko, and Jan Oblak are all doubts ahead of the game.
Barcelona face a very difficult task. Cubarsí is suspended, while Raphinha and Andreas Christensen are still out injured. Hansi Flick is expected to rely on Ronald Araújo and Eric García to hold the defence together as they try to overturn a three-goal swing and stay in the competition.
Prediction: Atlético Madrid 4–2 Barcelona
Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain (2–0 agg.)
Liverpool return to Anfield needing another big European comeback after a 2–0 defeat in Paris, where they failed to register a shot on target against the defending champions.
Arne Slot has major injury problems heading into this game, with Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic, and Wataru Endo all unavailable. This leaves the squad short in both defence and midfield.
Paris Saint-Germain arrive in control of the tie and in a strong position to finish the job. Luis Enrique is without Fabian Ruiz and Quentin Ndjantou. They still remain expected to go through.
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 4–1 Liverpool
Wednesday Matches
Arsenal vs Sporting CP (1–0 agg.)
Arsenal return to the Emirates with a narrow lead after Kai Havertz scored a late winner in the 91st minute in Lisbon to decide a tight first leg.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to bounce back after a weekend defeat in the Premier League, but they have a few injury concerns. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, and Mikel Merino are all struggling with injuries.
Sporting CP arrive in London with their own problems. They will be without Fotis Ioannidis and Nuno Santos due to injury, while Luis Guilherme is also a doubt.
Despite the setbacks, Sporting have caused problems for Arsenal in the past in North London and will look to Viktor Gyokeres to lead their attack as they chase the tie.
Prediction: Arsenal 3–2 Sporting CP
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (2–1 agg.)
Bayern Munich head into the second leg at the Allianz Arena with a narrow lead after a 2–1 win in Madrid.
Vincent Kompany’s side have several injury issues to deal with. Sven Ulreich is unavailable, along with Cassiano Kiala, David Santos, Lennart Karl, and Wisdom Mike, all ruled out through injury.
Despite this, Bayern’s core players remain in strong form as they look to defend their home ground and secure a place in the semi-finals.
Real Madrid also arrive with key absences. Alvaro Arbeloa is without Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo due to injury, while Aurélien Tchouaméni is suspended. Raul Asencio is also unavailable. Madrid would need a strong performance to overturn the deficit against Bayern at the Allianz Arena.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 5–3 Real Madrid
‘No way we’re going to cancel this fight’: Manny Pacquiao convinced Floyd Mayweather rematch will happen
After recent reports of a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao came into serious doubt, Pacquiao has spoken out to express his confidence that the sequel will in fact take place. Pacquiao most notably says his confidence stems from the fact that both fighters have a signed contract with Netflix, with both also taking advance money on the bout.
“We both signed the contract and we both got our advance on our purses, so there’s no way we’re going to cancel this fight,” Pacquiao told ESPN on Monday. “Even with our first fight, he’s a lot do deal with, but the fight happened.”
Pacquiao continue on to say that after Mayweather came out to publicly say the fight was intended as an exhibition, he immediately went to seek clarification from his team and knows that they’ve assuredly penned a deal for a legit, professional match. With that in mind, Pacquiao doesn’t really understand Mayweather’s attempt to spin it any other way but the sides have since been in contact with one another since, and are working towards resolving that aspect.
For now, Pacquiao says he’s excited to rematch Mayweather as The Sphere, on Netflix, in front of what he expects to be an even bigger audience this time around.