Golden State Valkyries Select Kate Martin in Expansion Draft

2024 has been a whirlwind year for a treasured WNBA rookie from the University of Iowa.

Kate Martin played a key role in leading the Hawkeyes to their second NCAA championship in two years along with the legendary Caitlin Clark. The senior, wearing #20, helped usher in a new era for the college program.

Unfortunately, Iowa fell to South Carolina in the finals.

Despite the disappointment, Martin experienced a life-changing moment during the 2024 WNBA Draft.

The six-foot college player attended the WNBA Draft to support her friend and teammate Clark, who was expected to be the #1 overall pick.

When the Las Vegas Aces, the reigning WNBA champions, had their turn to pick a player, they chose Iowa’s Kate Martin as the #18 overall selection.

During her rookie season, Martin formed strong bonds with WNBA stars like A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Megan Gustafson, her former Iowa teammate.

Now, Money Martin is embarking on a new journey for the 2025 season.

Kate Martin Drafted Twice in One Year

Due to the WNBA’s rapid expansion, a new team, the Golden State Valkyries, will be introduced in San Francisco.

On December 6th, the Golden State Valkyries conducted a mini draft to select unprotected players from other teams.

Fan-favorite Kate Martin was chosen to join this new team, indicating she was not protected by the Aces. Each team could protect six players.

Martin had a breakout year, earning significant playing time in the first half of the season due to injuries on the Aces team. However, her playing time decreased as players returned from injury, and she also faced her own injury setback.

After being selected, Kate Martin shared with ESPN, “I am grateful for the Aces and the lessons learned there, but I’m excited for this new chapter with the Valkyries.”

Two other teams, the Toronto Tempo and a yet-to-be-named Portland team, will be joining the WNBA in the coming years.

A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and the Public React

The moment was bittersweet for the rookie, as fans and athletes expressed their sentiments following the expansion draft.

@lil.paigey_5♬ original sound – Noah Kahan

WNBA 2024 MVP A’ja Wilson, Martin’s former Aces teammate, shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram story upon hearing about Martin’s move to the Valkyries.

Caitlin Clark, Martin’s best friend and Iowa teammate, also celebrated the move on her Instagram story, saying, “Let’s go Kater!!!!!”

Who Else Will Be Joining Kate Martin on the Valkyries?

The only team that did not lose a player in the expansion draft was the Seattle Storm.

According to a press release, the Golden State Valkyries will also participate in the 2025 WNBA Draft, holding the fifth, 17th, and 30th overall selections.

Here is the current roster of the Golden State Valkyries from the expansion draft:

Iliana Rupert, Maria Conde, Veronica Burton, Carla Leite, Temi Fagbenle, Kate Martin, Stephanie Talbot, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kayla Thornton, Monique Billings, and Julie Vanloo.

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