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Kate Martin continues to find her rhythm in her first season with the Golden State Valkyries, and on Wednesday afternoon, she was rewarded with a start, and a win.
The Valkyries snapped a short two-game skid in dominant fashion, defeating the Indiana Fever 80–61 on the road. The game also marked the return of Caitlin Clark, who had missed the last five contests with an ankle injury. Golden State’s defense smothered the rookie star, holding her to just 10 points in her return.
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MORE: How many points did Caitlin Clark score today?Â
While the Valkyries leaned on balanced scoring and a strong defensive effort, Martin contributed five points across 18 minutes of action in her first start since joining Golden State. The former Iowa standout didn’t stuff the stat sheet but played with her usual energy and poise, fitting in alongside the starting five after replacing Monique Billings in the lineup.
A Familiar Matchup for Iowa Alums
This was the sixth meeting in the pros between Martin and Clark, who were teammates at Iowa and helped lead the Hawkeyes to back-to-back NCAA title games. Earlier this season, the Valkyries had already bested the Fever with an 88–77 win, and this time they left no doubt, building a comfortable lead by halftime and never looking back.
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Golden State’s first-year franchise has been one of the WNBA’s most intriguing stories, now sitting at 10–9 after the win. While expectations were modest for an expansion team, the Valkyries have shown serious grit and potential through the first half of the season.
Earning Her Spot
Martin has quietly become one of the most dependable role players on the Valkyries roster. After playing a limited role with the Las Vegas Aces last season, she was averaging 7.4 points, 2.6 boards, and just under an assist per game with Golden State coming into this game.
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Recently, Martin had been making her case with solid performances off the bench, including a 21-point explosion against the Liberty. That stretch of consistency led head coach Latricia Trammell to shake up the rotation and slot Martin into the starting five.
What’s Next for the Valkyries?
Next up: a homecoming of sorts. Golden State will face Martin’s former team, the Las Vegas Aces, on Saturday in what’s sure to be an emotional matchup.
And while the All-Star Game looms on the horizon, one Valkyrie already knows she’s headed there. Kayla Thornton, who’s having a career-best season averaging 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds, has earned her first All-Star selection and will represent the Valkyries on July 19.
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With Martin gaining confidence and the team finding its footing, Golden State’s storybook inaugural season still feels like it’s just getting started.
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