A’ja Wilson Goes on a Public Outburst Over Kate Martin News as Old LV Aces Coach Comes Back to Haunt Them

The WNBA expansion draft brought about significant changes, and A’ja Wilson appears to be unhappy about them. The reactions from the two-time WNBA champion are understandable as they are losing a promising talent due to the shift. The Golden State Valkyries chose 11 players in their WNBA Expansion Draft on Friday night, including Las Vegas Aces’ 2024 rookie, Kate Martin. Wilson expressed her displeasure with this news.

Martin, who was unexpectedly drafted by the Aces in the second round earlier this year, seems to have earned A’ja Wilson’s admiration during her rookie season. This could be inferred from A’ja’s emotional posts about the Valkyries selecting Martin. Her initial post expressed frustration, while her recent post lamented the loss of her “Baby Rook.”

In the midst of her outburst, Wilson jokingly targeted a former assistant coach from the Aces, stating she would block them but later retracting it with love and happiness for them. The former assistant coach, Natalie Nakase, has now become the head coach of the Valkyries.

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The Valkyries’ expanded roster now includes Temi Fagbenle, Steph Talbot, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kayla Thornton, Monique Billings, Julie Vanloo, and Kate Martin. Notably, Seattle was the only team that did not lose a player in this draft.

Coach Nakase is optimistic about the upcoming journey, emphasizing the importance of picking players that align with their culture. This marks the WNBA’s first expansion draft in 16 years since the Atlanta Dream joined the league in 2008. Despite A’ja Wilson’s disappointment with the news about Martin, the 24-year-old seems less affected.

Kate Martin’s reaction to being drafted by Valkyries

After being selected by the WNBA expansion team, the Valkyries, Kate Martin expressed her excitement. Speaking with ESPN, she shared her thoughts on this new chapter in her career. “I’m really excited,” she said via espnW.

“This league is all about opportunity, you just need one shot… I’m very thankful for the Aces and everything I got to learn there, but I’m really excited for this new beginning and to build something from the ground up here with the Valkyries,” Martin added. Her time with the Aces was more about learning than shining, as evidenced by her modest stats in the 2024 season.

She is eager to apply the lessons learned from her time with the Aces to a larger role with the Valkyries. The upcoming matchups against her former team will certainly be intriguing.

Circle June 7 on your calendar for the game between Martin and the Valkyries against the Aces in Golden State. With the tension surrounding A’ja Wilson’s reaction, the face-off between her and Martin on the court promises to be captivating.