Making the roster in any professional sport is a struggle, but the WNBA is a different gravy. Due to structural limits, there are only 12 roster spots available on each of the 13 teams, meaning the league offers only around 156 spots in total. Combine that with the hard salary cap, and teams often sign only 11 players. Hence, many players good enough to play in the WNBA don’t eventually end up on a roster.
And unlike the NBA, there’s no G League equivalent, so many players end up overseas. Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers is the latest victim of the WNBA’s cutthroat modus operandi. She is now the first player to be cut from the WNBA’s newest team, the Golden State Valkyries, training camp roster.
WNBA Community Left Astonished by Golden State Valkyries’ Decision Over Shyanne Sellers.
Shyanne Sellers was selected by the Golden State Valkyries with the 17th pick in the second round of the 2025 WNBA draft, but she’s now been waived before stepping foot on the court, a decision that baffled many followers of women’s hoops.
Shyanne Sellers looks to find a new team after getting waived by the Valkyries. pic.twitter.com/FOzLSPMlh9
— espnW (@espnW) May 3, 2025
The Valkyries’ general manager, Ohemaa Nyanin, sounded like they were excited to have sellers after she was drafted, but she’s now been cut less than a month later.
“We were surprised Shyanne was available at 17. Her versatility excites us because it allows us to slide her in another position or another,” she said.
There were whispers of a niggling injury being the reason why sellers was cut but Sellers was medically cleared by both Maryland and the Valkyries. The head coach also confirmed she was cut because of fitness issues, claiming she just wasn’t the right fit. It’s a shame, as Sellers appeared to be among the most skilled players on the Valkyries’ roster. She is of size and has shown the ability to shoot from behind the arc in Maryland.
“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 we had to decide on that line,” head coach Natalie Nakase said
Shyanne’s reality of the league might be heartbreaking, but her case is not a never-before-seen occurrence.
Only 17 players drafted in 2022 made it to the opening-day roster; only 15 and 13 players made it in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Such is the brutal nature of the WNBA. The league is expected to add two more franchises in 2026 (Toronto and Portland), expanding the total spots to 180 across 15 teams. This will present more opportunities for players.
KEEP READING: WNBA’s Big Plan to Avoid Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Situation With Paige Bueckers Explained by Hoops Analyst
The Valkyries, who now have 17 players on their training camp roster, will still need to cut five more players before the season starts.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
