Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Kate Martin Earns New Nickname From Golden State Valkyries on Monday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 6:17 PM ET

Kate Martin and the Golden State Valkyries have been one of the most surprising teams in the league to begin the 2025 WNBA season, securing a 7-6 record through their first 13 games.

On Sunday, the Valkyries defeated the Connecticut Sun 87–63, securing their second straight win and fifth victory in their last six games.

While numerous Golden State players found success against the Sun, Martin was not one of them. The former Iowa Hawkeyes guard tallied one point on 0-of-8 shooting, four rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of action.

Despite her recent struggle, Martin appears to be enjoying her first season in the Bay Area. On Monday, she posted numerous photos of herself and her teammates on Instagram.

"Just having fun with it!" Martin captioned her post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kate Martin (@katemartin)

Kate “Money” Martin’s nickname has become well-known among WNBA fans since she joined the league in 2024. However, the Valkyries decided it was time for their guard to have a new nickname and commented on Martin's post.

"Golden Kate," the Valkyries replied.

Other Valkyries players left their comments on Martin's post, too.

"this is really nice Kate. I give it a 10/10 ‍↕️," wrote guard Bree Hall.

"There she is," added Aerial Powers.

Martin was selected in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, spending her rookie season with the Las Vegas Aces. After her lone season with Becky Hammon's squad, Martin was selected in December's expansion draft, joining Golden State for its inaugural season.

Martin has found success with her new team despite her recent performance. Through 12 games, she is averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 16.1 minutes per contest.

Up next, the Valkyries host Sabrina Ionescu and the defending champion New York Liberty in the third of a five-game home stand.

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

More must-reads: