Engaged, Drafted, And “Unrivaled”: Shyanne Sellers Is On Fire
Just days after her engagement, Shyanne Sellers is drafted to the WNBA, and taking part in a new league helping to reshape women’s basketball.
On April 14, Shyanne Sellers, a standout guard from Maryland, was selected 17th overall by the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA Draft. The night, however, was marred by a series of on-air blunders: Sellers was misidentified multiple times during the live broadcast, including being introduced as another player and mislabeled on-screen. Despite these mishaps, Sellers maintained her composure, even addressing questions about her recent engagement.
Sellers, a 6’2” guard hailing from Aurora, Ohio, has carved her own path in the world of basketball, distinct from her father, Brad Sellers (a former NBA player and current mayor of their town of Warrensville Heights, Ohio.) During her tenure at the University of Maryland, Sellers became a formidable force on the court, earning her a three-time First-Team All Big Ten honors and the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year award in 2022. Most recently, she made headlines when she announced her engagement to former teammate Faith Masonius.
Sellers’ experience underscores the broader challenges and triumphs faced by queer athletes in professional basketball. While the WNBA has long been a space where LGBTQ+ players have found community, a new league is pushing inclusivity even further. Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, boasts that approximately 50% of its players identify as LGBTQ+. The league offers the highest average salaries in women’s sports history and provides players with equity ownership, setting a new standard for athlete empowerment.
Related: The Class of 2025: Introducing The Women Inductees Of The LGBTQ Sports Hall Of Fame
Unrivaled’s inaugural season, launched in January 2025, features six teams and has attracted top talent from the WNBA. The league’s structure allows players to compete domestically during the WNBA offseason, eliminating the need to play overseas for better pay. This is huge. With significant partnerships and media coverage, Unrivaled is not only redefining the business model of women’s basketball but also creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for queer athletes.
The emergence of Unrivaled and the visibility of players like Shyanne Sellers signal a transformative moment in women’s basketball. As the sport continues to evolve, the emphasis on inclusivity, representation, and equitable treatment of athletes sets a powerful precedent for the future.
In a landscape where queer athletes are increasingly taking center stage, the combination of personal authenticity and professional excellence is not just celebrated—it’s becoming the norm.
Related: Athena Keke’s, A Queer Women’s Sports Bar, Is Coming To Clinton Hill
