The Atlanta Dream just added one of the best 2025 WNBA Draft prospects for free
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images The rookie was awarded on waivers to the Atlanta Dream after being waived over the weekend by the Golden State Valkyries. After being waived by the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday, Shyanne Sellers has been picked up by the Atlanta Dream, per the WNBA’s transactions page. The Dream were awarded Sellers off waivers two days after it was announced she had been cut by the Valkyries just days into training camp, before their first preseason game. Sellers was drafted No. 17 overall by the Valkyries this year after being projected as a first-round pick, then falling into the second round. The Valkyries' decision to cut Sellers was met with a ton of criticism online. Sellers was one of the best prospects to be drafted in the 2025 draft, despite falling into the second round. Speculation about her health was all fans could come up with when trying to put together why she was cut. Sellers struggled with a knee injury while playing at Maryland, but was cleared for play before being drafted. Over the weekend, Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase told the media that her decisions are being made based on fit, not talent. Natalie Nakase on this move: “she picked up everything we asked her to, did everything that we asked. It’s just that I have to choose the best 12 that are going to fit. Doesn’t mean it’s the most talented, it means it’s the best 12.” https://t.co/3Ch1TuGuDX— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) May 3, 2025 Now, Sellers will head to Atlanta to try and make their roster. Since the Dream picked Sellers up within 48 hours of her being waived by the Valkyries, they assumed her entire rookie contract instead of signing her as a free agent. It’s (contractually) like they drafted her themselves. Which is why the terminology is “awarded off waivers” instead of “signed as a free agent.” The chances of Sellers making Atlanta’s roster aren’t 100%, though. Atlanta has six protected veterans and two protected rookie contracts on their salary cap this season. That means 8/12 roster spots are already claimed by Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Nia Coffey, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Rhyne Howard and Naz Hillmon. The Dream have three or four spots left to fill, with eight players in the mix for those spots. Of those players, three (including Sellers) are rookie draft picks, one is a returning player (Haley Jones), and the rest are training camp contract signees. But as the Dream’s highest draft pick from this year, Sellers has a shot. Atlanta was close to being able to draft Sellers initially on draft night — they had the 18th pick, and Sellers was drafted 17th. They picked up Te-Hina Paopao at No. 18, and now have Sellers at No. 17, essentially getting back-to-back second-round picks without having to make a trade. The Atlanta Dream play their first preseason game on Wednesday, May 7, against the Washington Mystics.
The rookie was awarded on waivers to the Atlanta Dream after being waived over the weekend by the Golden State Valkyries.
After being waived by the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday, Shyanne Sellers has been picked up by the Atlanta Dream, per the WNBA’s transactions page. The Dream were awarded Sellers off waivers two days after it was announced she had been cut by the Valkyries just days into training camp, before their first preseason game. Sellers was drafted No. 17 overall by the Valkyries this year after being projected as a first-round pick, then falling into the second round.
The Valkyries' decision to cut Sellers was met with a ton of criticism online. Sellers was one of the best prospects to be drafted in the 2025 draft, despite falling into the second round. Speculation about her health was all fans could come up with when trying to put together why she was cut. Sellers struggled with a knee injury while playing at Maryland, but was cleared for play before being drafted.
Over the weekend, Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase told the media that her decisions are being made based on fit, not talent.
Natalie Nakase on this move: “she picked up everything we asked her to, did everything that we asked. It’s just that I have to choose the best 12 that are going to fit. Doesn’t mean it’s the most talented, it means it’s the best 12.” https://t.co/3Ch1TuGuDX— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) May 3, 2025
Now, Sellers will head to Atlanta to try and make their roster. Since the Dream picked Sellers up within 48 hours of her being waived by the Valkyries, they assumed her entire rookie contract instead of signing her as a free agent. It’s (contractually) like they drafted her themselves. Which is why the terminology is “awarded off waivers” instead of “signed as a free agent.”
The chances of Sellers making Atlanta’s roster aren’t 100%, though. Atlanta has six protected veterans and two protected rookie contracts on their salary cap this season. That means 8/12 roster spots are already claimed by Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Nia Coffey, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Rhyne Howard and Naz Hillmon. The Dream have three or four spots left to fill, with eight players in the mix for those spots. Of those players, three (including Sellers) are rookie draft picks, one is a returning player (Haley Jones), and the rest are training camp contract signees. But as the Dream’s highest draft pick from this year, Sellers has a shot.
Atlanta was close to being able to draft Sellers initially on draft night — they had the 18th pick, and Sellers was drafted 17th. They picked up Te-Hina Paopao at No. 18, and now have Sellers at No. 17, essentially getting back-to-back second-round picks without having to make a trade.
The Atlanta Dream play their first preseason game on Wednesday, May 7, against the Washington Mystics.
