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Kate Martin has quickly secured another opportunity in the WNBA after being released by the Golden State Valkyries ahead of the regular season.
The former Iowa standout officially signed with the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, giving her a fresh chance to continue her professional career after her brief spell with Golden State came to an end.
Martin joins the Sparks on a developmental contract, a deal designed to allow teams to keep promising players within the organization even if they are not part of the standard regular season roster. The arrangement is similar to a two-way contract in the NBA, giving players the opportunity to practice and travel with the team while remaining eligible to appear in a limited number of games during the season.
Under league rules, players on developmental contracts can spend up to 12 regular season games on the active roster. Teams also have the flexibility to convert those deals into standard contracts later in the season if roster space becomes available or if a player performs well enough to earn a permanent role.
For the Sparks, the signing gives them a chance to continue evaluating Martin while keeping her involved in the team environment. Although she did not secure one of the final spots on the regular roster immediately, the organisation clearly sees potential in her long-term development.
Martin enters her third WNBA season after building a strong reputation during her college career at Iowa, where she played alongside Caitlin Clark. The pair helped transform the program into one of the most talked-about teams in women's college basketball during their time together.
She was selected by the Las Vegas Aces with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and averaged 2.6 points per game during her rookie season. Despite limited opportunities, Martin gained valuable experience playing for one of the league's top franchises.
Golden State later selected her in the WNBA expansion draft as the Valkyries prepared for their inaugural season. During her time with the team, she averaged 6.2 points per game and showed flashes of growth before ultimately being released prior to the start of the campaign.
Now with Los Angeles, Martin faces another important chapter in her career. The Sparks will give her an opportunity to prove she deserves a full-time roster spot and a larger role moving forward. With experience already gained across multiple franchises, Martin will aim to establish stability and continue developing at the professional level.
