After a historic inaugural WNBA season for the Golden State Valkyries, featuring record attendance figures and a surprising playoff berth, new fans of the franchise watched to see how the team aimed to capitalize off the massive wave of support and early success. With the WNBA draft taking place in New York City on April 13, all eyes were on the Valkyries.
In a shocking draft night move, Golden State traded the draft rights of the No. 8 overall pick, Flau’je Johnson, to the Seattle Storm in exchange for a future second-round pick and, more significantly, the draft rights of the No. 16 overall pick, former Bear Marta Suárez.
“I was already riding a high — just to hear your name and to share that moment with your loved ones,” Suárez said in an interview after the draft. “But the moment they told me I’m going back to the Bay and I know my support group there … (I was) extremely excited, extremely humbled, extremely grateful and so thankful to get that opportunity.”
Suárez began her collegiate career at Tennessee before transferring to Cal at the end of her sophomore year and quickly blossoming into a full-time player. Anchoring the forward position, Suárez started every game across her two seasons as a Bear, averaging 12.4 points and seven rebounds per game.
As a senior in the 2024-25 season, the 6’3” Spaniard helped Cal to a 25-9 overall record and the Bears’ first appearance in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament since 2019. At the end of the season, Suárez graduated from Cal with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, marking a celebratory ending to her time in Berkeley.
Suárez’s collegiate story didn’t end with the blue and gold, however, as she committed to TCU this past season to play as a graduate transfer student. With the Horned Frogs, Suárez was the team’s second leading scorer while averaging a career-high 17.1 points to go along with 7.4 rebounds per game.
She helped lead TCU to its second straight Big 12 regular season title and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance that was highlighted by a 33-point double-double against Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen. For her efforts, Suárez was one of three players selected unanimously to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Her success at Cal and in Fort Worth boosted her draft stock, and now Suárez will be exchanging her TCU colors for another shade of purple.
“I saw the purple and just got very excited,” Suárez said. “I had talked to the GM and a couple people from the team just in the process of getting to know each other, and they had touched my heart. So to know that somehow I made an impact on them as well … just very, very excited.”
Suárez will have the chance to make an impact not only on her new teammates and coaches but also on fans in “Ballhalla” who remember her fondly as a Bear. The second-round pick will now open a new chapter of her basketball journey in a familiar setting as the newest member of the Golden State Valkyries.