Imagine grinding your whole life for a WNBA moment—only to be mistaken for Paige Bueckers, called Saniya Rivers on national TV, and have your own team butcher your name. On a night designed to spotlight college basketball’s brightest stars stepping into the pros, the WNBA tripped over its own red carpet. Paige Bueckers turned heads, Aneesah Morrow owned the room with first-round energy, but it was the 17th pick who unintentionally stole the show—for all the wrong reasons.
Instead of celebration, Shyanne Sellers got a crash course in what happens when visibility meets negligence. A dream-come-true $305,957 rookie deal with the Valkyries? Yes. But a name mix-up by your team, a face-swap with a UConn legend, and back-to-back blunders on live TV? That’s not just awkward—that’s disrespectful.
A viral post on X by user Rebecca captured the extent of the it: “In the past 20 hrs Shyanne Sellers has been misnamed as: -Aneesah (@Hannah_OFlynn) -Sania (@iamthathooper) -Paige Bueckers (@wnba) -Sheyanne (@valkyries). SHY-anne. Pronounced exactly how it’s spelled. If it’s too difficult call her Shy. Unacceptable. She deserves WAYYY better.”
In the past 20 hrs Shyanne Sellers has been misnamed as:
-Aneesah (@Hannah_OFlynn)
-Sania (@iamthathooper)
-Paige Bueckers (@wnba)
-Sheyanne (@valkyries)
SHY-anne. Pronounced exactly how it’s spelled. If it’s too difficult call her Shy.
Unacceptable. She deserves WAYYY better
— Rebecca (@terpswbbfan) April 15, 2025
And let’s be clear—Shyanne Sellers wasn’t some random name on the board.
She put up 14.4 points, 4 assists, and nearly 4 rebounds a game for Maryland. First in program history with 1,500+ points, 500+ rebounds, and 500+ assists. Second-best free throw shooter ever at Maryland. Third all-time in assists. AP All-America Honorable Mention. Three-time All-Big Ten First Team. One of Brenda Frese’s most polished products ever.
So when the WNBA flubbed her moment, fans weren’t just annoyed—they were furious.
Sellers, Not Bueckers — Fans Slam Jackson and WNBA for Fumbling Names on Draft Night
One fan said, “tbf Rickea said Sania’s name was being yelled in the background when she started to speak… that shit happens but the others are just inexcusable.”
On the Draft night, Jackson, confused Sellers with Saniya Rivers, before pointing out Sellers’ sharp suit. “Sania, your outfit is amazing. I love this blue. The jewelry makes it stand out,” she had said.
Jackson went on to apologise for her mistake and later clarified on X that the fumble was caused by an announcement in the background. “Ngl just interviewing Sania then hearing her name in the background tongue twisted me bad. I know who she is, I always watch herrr!!”
Another comment read, “They fr owe her something. I’m not sure what, but definitely something. It’s actually pissing me off so bad.”
And while Rickea owned up to her slip, fans weren’t so forgiving—especially since this was just the second-ever WNBA Draft open to the public, with tickets sold and eyes glued. Expectations were sky-high, and fumbles like these? Unacceptable.
In perhaps the biggest blunder of the night, the WNBA broadcast labeled Maryland star Shyanne Sellers as Paige Bueckers. Projected as a top-10 pick herself, with a high ceiling and a sharp basketball IQ, Sellers deserved her moment. But instead, the Chyron turned it into a confusion fest.
“I’m here with Aneesah [Morrow] and Rickea,” said ESPN’s O’Flynn, as Jackson visibly shook her head—because they were, in fact, interviewing Sellers. “Oh, sorry. Go ahead. My bad. I’m so sorry, that is embarrassing,” O’Flynn admitted, correcting the mistake on-air. Too late. The damage was done, and the internet wasn’t letting it slide.
Another fan said, “Getty images has her listed as Aziaha James as well.” While that is hard to verify, it isn’t making Sellers’ night any sweeter if it’s true. But the worst of all was to come from the newest franchise itself.
“@valkyries called her Shayenne. Even worse. SMH,” one said. Well, they just dropped $69,267 on a rookie, and the least one would expect is to get the name right. i just don’t understand how they spelt her name wrong. like it’s spelt how it sounds,” another vented.
Meanwhile, the Connecticut Sun are out here setting the standard—listing both spelling and pronunciation on their site: “Aneesah Morrow [pronounced uh-nee-suh]” and “Saniya Rivers [pronounced suh-NYE-uh].” That’s the level of professionalism that people do accept from a national league team.
The post Outcry Grows as WNBA Confuses No.17 Pick With Paige Bueckers & Others as Valkyries Adds Her on $69K Contract appeared first on EssentiallySports.