Excruciating WNBA Draft interview goes viral after hosts repeatedly get college star’s name wrong

The WNBA Draft should be a night to remember for everyone so lucky to hear their name get called – signifying a dream coming true.

But for one college star turned professional basketball player, all she may have wanted for people to remember was her name.

University of Maryland star Shyanne Sellers was selected in the second round of the draft by the newly-formed Golden State Valkyries.

It was a special moment for her, her family, her fiancée (who she got engaged to just days ago), and the organization about to play their first game ever in the coming weeks.

Unfortunately, in a pre-draft interview on the ‘orange’ carpet, Sellers was misidentified by host Hannah O’Flynn.

O’Flynn was alongside Sellers and Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson, but the host initially believed she was speaking to LSU star Aneesah Morrow instead.

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‘Orange Carpet’ host Hannah O’Flynn (L) confused the name of WNBA draftee Shyanne Sellers (center) as LA Sparks star Rickea Jackson (R) grimaces in an awkward scene Monday night

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O’Flynn said the name of Aneesah Morrow (above) instead, saying she read off the wrong card

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Sellers was drafted in the second round with the 17th pick by the Golden State Valkyries

I’m here with Aneesah and Rickea,’ O’Flynn said. Jackson grimaced and was heard saying ‘oh no’ as O’Flynn became confused.

‘Oh sorry, go ahead, my bad,’ O’Flynn added – unsure of what was happening.

Jackson then prompted Sellers to say her name, with O’Flynn responding by saying ‘I’m so sorry, that is embarrassing.’

O’Flynn then clarified that she had been looking at the wrong information card, which she shuffled to correct.

Jackson wasn’t immune from mistakes either. She then referred to Sellers as ‘Saniya’, mixing her up with another prospect in the draft, Saniya Rivers.

After her mistake, Jackson took to social media and explained that she heard an announcement for Rivers’ name in the background and it slipped into her speech.

‘Ngl just interviewing Sania then hearing her name in the background tongue twisted me bad. I know who [Sellers] is I always watch herrrrr!!,’ Jackson said in a post to X, formerly Twitter.

As if the situation couldn’t get any more awkward, the production booth decided to make an error of their own.

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Jackson had a flub too – calling Sellers ‘Saniya’ (above: Saniya Rivers) – after hearing Rivers’ name on an announcement in the background. Jackson explained her side on social media.

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To make it worse, the control booth accidentally displayed a Paige Bueckers name graphic

Despite previously identifying Sellers correctly with a graphic earlier in the interview, the broadcast then showed a graphic with the name and college of Paige Bueckers instead.

Sellers was a superstar for Maryland as she helped the Terrapins reach the Sweet 16 this season.

Over her career, the guard was named a three-time All-Big Ten player and averaged 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

As for the three players she was mixed up with, Bueckers was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings and both Morrow and Rivers were picked back-to-back at seventh and eighth by the Connecticut Sun.