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Kate Martin had the hot hand for the Golden State Valkyries during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Lynx, but she ended up playing just 19 minutes in the contest — only a four-and-a-half minute increase from her season average.
The 24-year-old guard finished the contest with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, with all her points coming in the second quarter when she just couldn't miss. She was 4-of-5 in the period, including 2-of-2 from deep.
However, after she was subbed out with 3:28 remaining in the second quarter, Martin wouldn't return again until late in the third quarter.
Naturally, the decision to sub Martin out and keep her on the bench for long confused Valkyries fans, especially since the second-year guard was playing well. It didn't help that Golden State struggled offensively in the third quarter, scoring just eight points, and eventually lost 85-76.
KATE MARTIN IS ON FIRE ‼️
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 2, 2025
11 POINTS IN 5 MINUTES.
MIN-GSV | WNBA Commissioner's Cup presented by@coinbase pic.twitter.com/PumraG528H
During and after the game, fans questioned Coach Natalie Nakase's decision, with others also demanding that the team give Martin more playing time moving forward.
"Kate was on a run then you sat her for 7 minutes, bizarre decision. When people are hot, play them!" a commenter wrote after the Valkyries' loss. Another one said, "So is Kate Martin terrible on defense? Im confused how you can score 14 points in 6 minutes then immediately go back to the bench."
A disappointed fan remarked, "Coach lost that game. She sits the leading scorer Kate Martin put who had 14pts in 6 minutes & were ahead by 5. She waits till the 4 minute mark in the 3rd quarter to put She & Vanaloo in. She was to worried about what the other coach was saying She has no clue what she is doing."
"So if Kate Martin is the lead scorer tonight, why is she on the bench?" a viewer noticed during the contest.
A baffled supporter added, "Kate Martin scores 14 points in 6 minutes, gets them the lead, and is back to riding the bench… why? I’m so confused."
"Kate Martin should be a starter!" a follower exclaimed. Another fan pleaded, "please give martin more time."
While it's certainly unfortunate that the Valkyries didn't capitalize on her offensive explosion, it's still a positive result for Martin, since she proved that she can make an impact on the team.
To recall, Martin did not play during Thursday's game against the New York Liberty following a string of poor performances.
After Sunday, Martin should see an uptick in her playing time — or at least get a more consistent role with the team.
More must-reads:
- Angel Reese continues to be a rare bright spot for the Sky
- No end in sight in Jonathan Kuminga-Warriors 'staring contest'
- The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
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WNBA All-Star Game ratings paint a troubling picture
WNBA players sent a message to the league with T-shirts they wore ahead of the All-Star Game on Saturday night, but the ratings for the game did not exactly strengthen their stance. Prior to the All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Caitlin Clark and other players warmed up in shirts that said “Pay us what you owe us” across the front. The message had to do with the current state of collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the WNBA and WNBA Player’s Association. Unfortunately for the players, the television ratings for the game were not very good. Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported on Tuesday that the WNBA All-Star Game drew 2.19 million viewers on ABC, which was down roughly 36% from a year ago. Last year’s game featured the WNBA All-Stars against the Team USA squad that was preparing to compete in the Summer Olympics in Paris. The dip in ratings is likely another example of the type of impact Clark has had on the WNBA. Although she was a team captain for this year’s All-Star Game, Clark did not play due to a groin injury. Clark played in last year’s game for the All-Star side, as she did not make the Team USA Olympic roster. Many fans were outraged that she was snubbed from the Olympic team, which added an element of intrigue to the All-Star Game. There is no way of knowing for certain whether more fans would have watched the All-Star Game on Saturday night had Clark played. It is a safe guess, however, especially when you look at some recent trends for the league.
Yankees among teams in talks to acquire Padres starter
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has stirred up a whirlwind, looking to fulfill his priority of bringing a frontline starter to New York. In his latest round of relentless phone calls, MLB insider Jon Heyman reports that Cashman spoke to San Diego Padres general manager, A.J. Preller, about two-time Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease. Cease has been a source of interest for MLB teams since 2022, when he pitched to a spectacular 2.20 ERA with 227 strikeouts in 184 innings, coming second in the Cy Young voting. Landing with the Padres last season, Cease again flashed potential, tossing to a 3.47 ERA with 224 strikeouts through 189.1 innings of work. That year, he placed fourth in Cy Young voting. But as much as Cease is talented, he is also flawed. In 2023, just after his best year, Cease posted a lackluster 4.58 ERA, and this season has been no better. Through 113.2 innings this year, Cease owns a 4.59 ERA with 144 strikeouts. Cease has been quite the strikeout artist since his debut, but the rest of his results haven’t always been that good. His 42 walks and 16 home runs surrendered on the year make him a risky bet. According to Heyman, the Yankees are one of four teams that have “checked in” on Cease. He notes that trading Cease is a long shot since the Padres are in contention, but they still may be inclined to do so as he is in the last year of his contract. One might also add that his performance this year probably won’t help them reach the World Series. For the Yankees, or any other interested team for that matter, dealing prospects or players for a slumping half-year rental might not be the best idea. Still, the Padres might just receive a decent haul for Cease since the market for spotless, front-line aces is non-existent at this trade deadline.
Carter Hart, others found not guilty in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Callan Foote, Michael McLeod and Alex Formenton have been found not guilty by Justice Maria Carroccia in London, Ontario, according to reporting from The Athletic, after being charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving the 2018 Canadian men’s national junior team. Carroccia said that she did not find E.M.’s [the alleged victim] evidence “credible or reliable,” in explaining her reasoning. “Having found that I cannot rely upon the evidence of E.M. and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me,” Carroccia said. The allegations against Dube, Foote, Formenton, Hart and McLeod first became public in May of 2022, when reports emerged that Hockey Canada had paid to settle a lawsuit with a woman, known in court documents as E.M., who said she was sexually assaulted by eight players “over several hours” in a London hotel room on July 18, 2018. No charges were levied as a result of the initial investigation by local police, which was closed in February 2019, but the case was reopened after the 2022 report. Formal charges were then brought against the five defendants on Jan. 30, 2024. The trial began on April 22, 2025, and the verdicts were reached solely by Justice Carroccia after two mistrials influenced her to dismiss the jury. The NHL does not have a formal policy for players accused of or charged with domestic violence, sexual assault or similar crimes. Instead, the four players who were under NHL contracts at the time – Dube, Foote, Hart and McLeod – were granted indefinite leaves of absence by their clubs shortly before the charges were announced. All of them were pending restricted free agents on expiring contracts and were not extended qualifying offers, making them unrestricted free agents as of July 1, 2024. When asked about the playing eligibility of the defendants, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has continually deferred action until after a verdict was reached. While none of the players are formally suspended by the league, similar situations have routinely required some sort of permission from league offices for them to play in or return to the NHL. If teams approach any of them with a contract offer, they will presumably wait for that guidance before registering the deal.
No end in sight in Jonathan Kuminga-Warriors 'staring contest'
Negotiations between restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors remain at a stalemate, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. “It’s a staring contest between these two sides that could continue much longer than just this month,” Charania said. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported last week that Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, has held numerous discussions with Warriors officials in Las Vegas this month trying to secure a contract that pays at least $25M in average annual salary, even in the short term, according to Fischer. The Warriors have been reluctant to meet that price in a long-term agreement. Charania visited with Kuminga on Wednesday and said that the 22-year-old forward told him that he was in “absolutely no rush to do a deal with the Warriors.” According to new ESPN insider Anthony Slater, coach Steve Kerr has been in contact with Kuminga during the process but Kerr’s tendency to reduce his role during crunch time and in the postseason has left some “scar tissue,” adding that Kuminga no longer wants to be a “Plan B” option. Turner continues to pursue possible sign-and-trade transactions. According to Charania, the Suns and Kings “have made concrete offers with the Warriors over the last week or so.” Those clubs have also offered Kuminga an “opportunity for significant minutes, a starting caliber role” and “those are two things he wants more than anything.” Golden State has balked at the packages those teams have offered, which leaves Kuminga as well as the organization in limbo. The Wizards, Heat, Bulls, Bucks and Nets have also been named as possible suitors for Kuminga. The Warriors’ other potential offseason moves have been delayed until the Kuminga situation is resolved, Charania adds. Slater identifies Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry as free agents that Golden State is interested in. The Warriors have just nine players on standard contracts. Kuminga appeared in just 47 games in 2024-25, having missed more than two months due to a badly sprained ankle. He had an inconsistent role when healthy, averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes per game, with a .454/.305/.668 shooting line. Although he was out of the Warriors’ rotation entirely for some key games at the end of the regular season and in the postseason, Kuminga averaged 24.3 points per game on .554/.389/.720 shooting in his final four playoff games against Minnesota after Stephen Curry injured his hamstring.
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