Golden State Valkyries’ Kate Martin takes questions during their media day at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Kate Martin took a pause, looked at the ceiling and held back her tears.
The former Golden State Valkyries guard was surprisingly waived on Thursday morning, but found a home with the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday when she signed a developmental contract.
She talked about her time with the Valkyries for the first time since being released before the Sparks’ season opener against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.
“It was not easy at all,” Martin told reporters in Los Angeles. “It happened on Wednesday. Obviously, it’s a business decision. It’s a business and I just had to do what was best for me and my career. I’m very, very excited to be here 1,000% and I’m here to give it my all.
“That process wasn’t easy, and now I feel like I can relate to a lot more people on a level that maybe I never wanted to be able to relate on. But it’s only gonna help me as a leader and as a person going forward.”
The Valkyries parted ways with Martin on Thursday as the pregnancy of starting center Iliana Rupert put the roster in an even tighter crunch. Golden State opted to provide more point guard and center depth by keeping Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere – two players whose contracts were unprotected like Martin’s.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said the decision to cut Martin was hard on both her and the team.
“It was very emotional, a lot of heartache. Kate was our family member and someone we cared about deeply. And we still do care deeply about Kate,” Nakase said before the Valkyries’ season-opening win in Seattle on Friday. “With that said, it was obviously very hard because we are trying to construct the best team but for us, it has been a lot of emotions.”
Martin spent each of her first two seasons with Nakase as a coach. When Martin was drafted by Las Vegas in 2024, Nakase was an assistant on the Aces’ staff. She then came to Golden State in the expansion draft before last season.
“I know that was tough for sure, a tough cut for Nat,” Aces coach Becky Hammon told reporters before Sunday’s game. “I know she cares a lot about Kate, and you know, not surprised (she signed with LA), the kid’s gonna land on her feet wherever she goes. She’s just that kind of winner.”
The former Iowa standout struggled to find consistency with the Valkyries last year, averaging 6.2 points on 31% shooting from the 3-point line. But Nakase and Valkyries players constantly praised Martin as a glue player who was great in the locker room.
When Martin suffered a Grade 2 quad strain last week, Nakase noted her ability to stay level-headed throughout her recovery.
“She just made sure she was on the sidelines, underneath, in every huddle, and just constantly cheering her teammates on,” Nakase said last week. “Kate knows the job. She’s amazing.”
Martin joins a Los Angeles team that added star power over the offseason, including former Stanford Standout Nneka Ogwumike and All-Star shooting guard Ariel Atkins.
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said Martin is “good to go” when asked about her quad strain, but Martin did not play in Sunday’s game, a 105-78 Las Vegas win.
