Shyanne Sellers was widely expected to hear her name called early in the 2025 WNBA Draft, with many projecting her as a top-five selection. Instead, she fell to No. 17, where the Golden State Valkyries, the league’s newest expansion franchise, selected her.
The surprise slide has sparked speculation, with many pointing to concerns about her right knee as the likely cause.
Golden State Valkyries Snag Shyanne Sellers After Unexpected Slide
Sellers leaves Maryland as the program’s only player to surpass 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists over a four-year career. The 6’2″ Aurora, Ohio native played primarily at shooting guard under Brenda Frese but has shown comfort at both guard and wing positions.
The Valkyries used their first-ever draft pick on Lithuanian forward Justė Jocytė at No. 5 before grabbing Sellers later in the second round.
Despite entering the 2025 WNBA Draft as a projected top-six pick, Shyanne Sellers slipped to No. 17, where she was ultimately selected by the Golden State Valkyries. One of only 16 players invited to the draft in person, her fall stunned viewers and led to widespread speculation about possible injury concerns.
“I’d imagine the medicals don’t look promising & have scared off teams,” one fan posted, echoing a sentiment circulating online.
“I thought for sure she would’ve been off the board already. Feels like there’s something that we don’t know about,” another said
Sellers battled a knee injury during her senior campaign but still produced strong numbers. She averaged 14.4 points per game, led Maryland with 127 assists, and topped 20 points eight times—including a 26-point showing in a nationally watched clash with USC’s JuJu Watkins.
She also closed the season strong, missing just one free throw (46-for-47) in Maryland’s final 12 contests.
A leader on a Terrapins team that reached the Sweet 16, Sellers started 103 of 130 career games, amassing 1,676 points, 595 rebounds, and 523 assists. She became the first player in program history to surpass 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. Her free-throw percentage of .830 ranks second all-time at Maryland, just behind Kristi Toliver’s .866.
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Sellers ranks No. 12 on Maryland’s all-time scoring list and is third in assists behind Toliver and Debbie Lytle. Although she occasionally telegraphed interior passes, leading to turnovers, her combination of size, vision, and skill makes her a valuable fit at either guard or wing.
She joins a growing list of former Terps in the league—eight are currently on WNBA rosters, including Chloe Bibby, Diamond Miller, and Alyssa Thomas. Sellers is the 23rd Maryland player drafted and the 17th coached by Brenda Frese, whose program has produced nine top-10 picks.
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