Maryland
Valkyries waive former Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers in first cut to training camp roster
Less than a month after the 2025 WNBA Draft, the first roster cuts are beginning to fall. On Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries announced that they had waived Shyanne Sellers, the team’s second-round pick.
Sellers, a guard from Maryland, was selected 17th overall by Golden State, but was dropped by the team just a week into training camp.
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In a league where teams are limited to 12 players on the regular-season roster, putting players on waivers will become increasingly common over the coming weeks. But while some undrafted players have already been waived, Sellers is the first player selected in the draft to get cut.
Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, who is maneuvering Golden State through its inaugural season, told reporters that Sellers was waived not because of a lack of talent, but simply because of space.
“She picked up everything we asked her to, did everything 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,” Nakase said, via ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.
Sellers was a star at Maryland, earning three straight Big Ten First-Team selections and putting up an average of 14.1 points per game with the Terrapins. During her time at Maryland, Sellers built up a significant online following: The guard boasts 23.2K followers on Instagram and 94K followers on TikTok. Many of these fans were upset after Sellers was waived.
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For Golden State, the simple answer was that they had too many guards. On the current roster as of Saturday, seven of the the Valkyries’ 18 signed players are guards, including some locks like veteran Tiffany Hayes and fan favorite Kate Martin.
Sellers getting cut marks the beginning of a cutthroat WNBA preseason. After taking 38 total players in the 2025 Draft, plus others who may have signed free agency contracts, the 13 WNBA squads will have to cut down to 12 players by the start of the regular season on May 16. That means some tough choices on players who just began their WNBA journey.
Even players who are stars in their college careers can have a hard time cutting it in the WNBA. Former North Carolina star Alyssa Ustby, one of the more notable undrafted players, was waived by the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday after signing a training camp contract with the team. In the coming weeks, other noteworthy names at the collegiate level are likely to follow.
Maryland
Maryland HOA holiday lights dispute highlights what homeowners can and can’t do
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A Maryland family’s ongoing battle with their homeowners’ association over a Christmas light display has reignited a broader conversation about how much control HOAs can legally exercise over holiday decorations.
7News has been following the case, in which the family continues to face fines from their HOA over their holiday lights.
To better under how homeowner associations operate and what options residents may have, 7News spoke with Alfredo Vásquez, a Washington, D.C.-based homeowner defense attorney.
RELATED COVERAGE | HOA vs. Christmas decorations: Maryland family facing hundreds in fines for lights
Why HOAs often cite holiday decorations
According to Vásquez, disputes over holiday decorations are common, but they usually center on timing rather than style.
“It may vary by community or HOA,” Vásquez said. “The most common reason would be that residents put decorations up too early or take them down too late.”
He explained that most HOA governing documents regulate how long decorations can remain on display, outlining specific start and end dates of holiday decor.
Are there rules on lights, music, or colors?
While many homeowners wonder whether HOAs can ban flashing lights, colored bulbs, or loud holiday music, Vásquez said those restrictions are less common.
“I haven’t seen any restrictions that are specific in that way,” he said. “Most governing documents I’ve reviewed focus on whether lights or music interfere with a neighbor’s lot.”
In other words, enforcement is often tied to nuisance complaints rather than aesthetics.
What if homeowners feel targeted?
Vásquez emphasized that HOA boards are legally required to enforce rules consistently.
“The Board of Directors has a duty to implement regulations in an equitable manner across the entire community,” he said.
If homeowners believe they are being unfairly singled out, the first step is reviewing the HOA’s governing documents to confirm whether the association actually has authority to regulate the issue at hand.
MORE COVERAGE | HOA still not specifying ‘nuisance’ in Germantown, Md. family’s Christmas decorations
Can issues be resolved without going to court?
Yes, and in most cases, that’s the recommended path.
HOAs must follow state condo and HOA laws, which typically require formal processes for enforcement, including notices of violations and opportunities for hearings.
“It would be ideal for homeowners to act quickly and request a hearing with the board,” Vásquez said. “They should present their case and allow the board to decide whether the violation and fines can withstand scrutiny.”
Do homeowners have any recourse after signing HOA bylaws?
Once a homeowner buys into an HOA-regulated community, they are generally bound by its bylaws, Vásquez said.
“As long as those bylaws comply with federal and state laws, homeowners’ hands may be tied,” he explained.
However, bylaws can be changed, usually through a supermajority vote of the community. Homeowners may also have stronger grounds to challenge newly adopted amendments, as long as they act promptly.
Vásquez added that staying engaged in HOA meetings and decisions is critical.
“Homeowners have to pay attention to what’s going on in their community so they can challenge changes in a timely manner,” he said.
Maryland
Attempted traffic stop leads to arrest of Maryland man wanted for kidnapping
Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) announced the arrest of a man wanted for kidnapping on Thursday afternoon.
Suba Washington Jr., 27, of Williamsport, Maryland, was apprehended in Frederick after an attempted traffic stop early Thursday morning, according to deputies.
The pursuit
When officers tried to pull over a Hyundai Elantra in the 7300 block of Crestwood Blvd., the driver, later identified as Washington, refused to stop.
Deputies were later notified that Washington was wanted on charges of kidnapping, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment in Washington County, Maryland.
As Washington fled northbound on Route 85, he struck a car near Crestwood Blvd. and Buckeystown Pike; however, the driver of the vehicle was unharmed as the suspect continued onto northbound I-270 and then westbound I-70.
Washington’s tires were eventually flattened after deputies deployed stop sticks near the Middletown exit.
Though the pursuit still wasn’t over, as the vehicle managed to cross over into Washington County, where the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and Maryland State Police (MSP) aided in apprehension.
Washington was taken into custody after his vehicle approached the Route 40 exit, coming to a full stop on the highway.
The charges
A 17-year-old in the passenger seat was found with Washington during the pursuit. The teenager was released to WSCO.
According to FCSO, Washington Jr. was taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center and charged with numerous traffic citations, including reckless driving, negligent driving, and two counts of attempting to elude law enforcement.
Maryland
Maryland to launch study on economic impacts of climate change
Maryland will launch a study to analyze the economic impacts of climate change to determine the costs associated with storm damage and health outcomes.
The move is part of the Moore-Miller administration’s strategic approach to investing in a clean energy economy and modernizing the state’s energy infrastructure.
“While the federal government has spent the past year rolling back climate protections and driving up energy costs, Maryland is taking a responsible step toward understanding the true price tag of climate change,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “This study will give us a clear, data-driven look at the real burden taxpayers are shouldering as climate change drives more extreme and costly weather events.”
The RENEW Act Study will be funded by investments and state sources, including $30,000 from philanthropic funding and $470,000 from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, to assess the burden that Marylanders are paying due to intense weather events and environmental shifts.
Marylanders on climate change
The announcement comes months after Maryland lawmakers opposed a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to recind its 2009 endangerment finding, which determined that greenhouse gases were a danger to public health.
Lawmakers raised concerns that the move would mean engine and vehicle manufacturers would not be required to measure, control or report greenhouse gas emissions. They also raised concerns that the decision could impact climate change and harm local communities.
The EPA said it intended to retain regulations for pollutant and toxic air measurement and standards. In September, the agency initiated the formal process to reconsider the finding.
In March, a Johns Hopkins University poll found that nearly 73% of surveyed Baltimore City and County residents were concerned that climate change would affect them.
According to the study, city residents were more concerned about personal harm from climate change than county residents. However, county residents expected to see higher costs in the next five years due to climate change.
About 70% of Baltimore area residents believe climate change will increase costs for homeowners and businesses in the next five years, the study found.
An April report ranked the Washington/Baltimore/Arlington region as the 36th worst in the country and second worst in the mid-Atlantic region for ozone smog. The report graded Baltimore County an “F” for ozone smog.
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