Valkyries Guard Kate Martin Career News Announced During WNBA Playoffs

Martin joined Golden State through the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft after spending her rookie year with the Las Vegas Aces, who drafted her in the second round, 18th overall, out of Iowa. In her first season with the Valkyries, she averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across 42 games, playing 16.4 minutes per contest. She became a reliable option off the bench, and her performances included a career-best 21-point game against the New York Liberty, where she scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to help the Valkyries stay competitive.

Following her impressive second year, Martin was unveiled as one of the players to feature in Unrivaled’s second season, marking her return to the tournament. Martin played in the league’s inaugural campaign with Laces BC, and will continue to compete in the offseason 3-on-3 league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.

Unrivaled recently confirmed it raised $350 million in funding, and is gradually becoming a renowned league for women’s basketball in the US, offering six-figure base salaries and equity to its players.

The news arrives shortly after Golden State’s first-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Lynx, a setback that ended their debut year but did little to diminish the excitement surrounding the franchise. For Martin, the chance to stay active with Unrivaled offers both continuity and exposure, keeping her sharp ahead of the 2026 WNBA season.

Martin played college basketball with the Iowa Hawkeyes and was a longtime teammate and close friend of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, earning All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and overcoming an ACL injury earlier in her college career. She continued her steady rise in the pros, where she is now part of a rising franchise while also building her profile through alternative competitions.