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The Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural WNBA season was one of the biggest stories in basketball in 2025. The expansion franchise finished 23-21, reached the postseason and shattered attendance records. The team sold out all 22 home games and drew 397,408 fans — an average of 18,064 per game in the regular season — the highest single-team attendance figure in league history.
Their rapid rise brought energy to the Bay Area and the league, establishing the Valkyries as a competitive and marketable franchise. Among the players who helped drive that success was guard Kate Martin, whose consistency and steady contributions earned her a significant role in the team’s rotation.
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Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin (20).Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Martin joined Golden State through the 2024 WNBA expansion draft after spending her rookie year with Las Vegas. The Aces drafted her in the second round, 18th overall, out of Iowa. In her first season with the Valkyries, she averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1 assists across 42 games, playing 16.4 minutes per contest. She became a reliable option off the bench, and her performances included a career-best 21-point game against the New York Liberty. In that game, she scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to help the Valkyries stay competitive.
Following her impressive second year, Martin was announced as one of the players taking part in Unrivaled’s second season. Martin played in the inaugural campaign with Laces BC, and will return to the 3-on-3 league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
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Unrivaled recently confirmed it had raised $350 million in funding and is gradually becoming a renowned league for women’s basketball in the U.S. It offers six-figure base salaries and equity to its players.
The news arrives shortly after Golden State’s first-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Lynx, a setback that ended their debut year but did little to diminish the excitement surrounding the franchise. For Martin, the chance to stay active with Unrivaled offers continuity and exposure, keeping her sharp ahead of the 2026 WNBA season.
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Martin played college basketball with the Iowa Hawkeyes and was a longtime teammate and close friend of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, earning All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and overcoming an ACL injury earlier in her college career. She continued her steady rise in the pros, where she is now part of a rising franchise while also building her profile through alternative competitions.
Related: WNBA Fans Plan to Mute ESPN After Indiana Fever Development
Related: Unrivaled Receives $340 Million Ahead of Angel Reese’s Second Campaign
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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