The Golden State Valkyries have chosen Kate Martin and Kayla Thornton within the enlargement draft, per Sabreena Service provider and Marcus Thompson II of the Athletic. The Las Vegas Aces rookie and New York Liberty veteran will each go to the Bay as a part of the inaugural group for the WNBA’s fifteenth franchise.
Neither choice comes as a large shock. SB Nation’s official enlargement draft predictions anticipated Golden State to pick out Kayla Thornton from New York. The versatile veteran is a confirmed playoff contributor and a dependable shooter — however the Liberty needed to defend Nyara Sabally after her postseason surge.
Kate Martin may have simply been on the protected checklist, however the Aces went in a unique route — in the end leaving her unprotected. Martin didn’t play a lot in her rookie season as soon as the Aces rotation was entire, however she confirmed flashes of potential in the course of the season.
Martin appeared in 34 video games, averaging 2.6 factors in 11.5 minutes per evening. Her teammates had been impressed by her fast instincts, and the way shortly she adjusted to life as an expert.
“Kate Martin is superior. Kate Martin picks up issues so shortly, she’s an incredible sponge,” Kelsey Plum mentioned in Might. “I believe Becky nicknamed her Kate ‘Cash’ Martin. I believe that’s gonna stick.”
Martin fell out of the rotation within the second half of the season, her minutes taking a dip after Chelsea Grey returned from her early-season absence. Whereas she was a fan favourite in Las Vegas — and was often lauded for her effort and seamless integration — she in the end wasn’t one of many Aces’ rotation gamers once they had been entire.
Finally, her slot in Golden State makes good sense for a few causes:
Kate Martin’s developmental timeline seemingly aligns higher with Golden State
The Aces are a veteran group, and their championship window is now. Three-time MVP A’ja Wilson is in her prime at 28 years outdated, whereas a number of of the Aces’ rotation gamers from 2024 are within the latter portion of their careers, together with Tiffany Hayes (35), Sydney Colson (35), and Kelsey Plum (30). It’s not that the group’s championship window is closing — but when the Aces had been deciding between defending a extra veteran participant and Martin, it’s comprehensible why they opted to let one in all their intriguing younger items stroll.
Although she was typically praised for her emotional maturity, Martin continues to be contemporary off of her rookie season. Like most WNBA gamers, it’s going to in all probability be a couple of years till she is a dependable playoff contributor. The Valkyries’ roster will seemingly be youthful than the Aces’, and Martin’s developmental timeline will align with theirs.
Natalie Nakase will make the transition notably seamless
The Golden State Valkyries’ head coach, Natalie Nakase, already had a detailed relationship with Martin. Nakase was one in all Becky Hammon’s lead assistants in Las Vegas this previous season, and her experiences working with the 2024 No. 18 general decide seemingly performed a component within the franchise’s determination to pick out her.
For Martin, having to vary franchises after a single season is an uncommon scenario, however having a well-known face in her new metropolis will make the transition much less tumultuous.
Kate Martin’s recognition will assist the Valkyries generate buzz
There’s loads of buzz across the Valkyries already, however the Iowa star becoming a member of the squad will assist generate much more. Kate Martin offered the 4th-most jerseys of any WNBA participant this season, and she is going to undoubtedly be one of the crucial well-known names on the Valkyries roster proper off the bat. What higher option to begin a brand new group than with one of the crucial standard gamers within the league?
