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The dream is over for Kate Martin and the Golden State Valkyries. After being the first expansion team ever to make the WNBA playoffs in their inaugural season, the fairy tale ended for the Valkyries on Wednesday after they suffered a heartbreaking 75-74 loss to the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx.
The Valkyries also lost Game 1 on Monday, and their Game 2 loss on Wednesday marked the end of the road for Golden State’s memorable run.
Martin played just six minutes off the bench in Game 2, logging five points, one rebound and one three-pointer. After the loss, the 6-foot guard took to social media to send a heartfelt message.
“So proud of this team & thankful for all my teammates, coaches & fans 🩷 we had a blast this year,” she posted on Instagram.
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Martin’s words land loudly. The season may have ended in heartbreak for Golden State, but there’s no denying that it was a season for the books.
The Valkyries battled hard on Wednesday, but Napheesa Collier and the Lynx just proved too much for them. Minnesota became just the second team in WNBA playoff history to secure a comeback win after entering the fourth quarter with a deficit of at least 14 points.
Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin (20) shoots the ball while Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) defends.
As for Martin, the former Iowa star is still locked up with the Valkyries through 2027. She is still under her rookie contract, which she signed with the Las Vegas Aces last season. The deal carried over after Golden State selected her as the sixth overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Expansion Draft.
Martin had a more memorable second season in the league. In 42 appearances for the Valkyries this year, the 25-year-old produced averages of 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.4 triples in 16.4 minutes per contest.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
