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ESPN Predicts Tough Situation for Kate Martin

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated May 8, 2025 6:11 PM ET

Caitlin Clark's former Iowa Hawkeyes teammate, Kate Martin, was able to cement a place in the WNBA after being drafted 18th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Martin made the cut as part of the Las Vegas Aces' 2024 roster, even getting significant playing time early in the campaign after the team was hit by injuries. However, as the season progressed and Las Vegas returned to full health, the 24-year-old guard eventually saw her role decrease.

Eventually, Martin wasn't protected by the Aces in the expansion draft, allowing the Golden State Valkyries to take her.

Now, as Martin prepares for her second season in the pros, hopes are high that she will have a more consistent role in the new WNBA franchise.

Unfortunately, if ESPN's prediction proves to be true, the ex-Hawkeyes starter might have a tough time getting minutes with her brand-new team.

As things currently stand, one-time All-Star Tiffany Hayes and veteran guard Julie Vanloo are more likely to start for Golden State, which leaves Martin on the bench, fighting for playing time once again.

"While the 24-year-old's playing time could increase as part of the league's newest franchise, she'll likely be behind Tiffany Hayes and Julie Vanloo on the depth chart, leaving her to compete with Juste Jocyte and Veronica Burton for minutes," ESPN noted on its 2025 fantasy projections.

Aside from a potentially limited role, ESPN also sees Kate Martin averaging 4.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 36.2 percent shooting — all of which are improvements from her rookie numbers, albeit miniscule.

It will be interesting to see how Martin actually performs once the 2025 season starts. For what it's worth, in the Valkyries' preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Martin played 18 minutes off the bench and tallied eight points, three rebounds and two steals.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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