Despite Kate Martin emerging as a highly popular figure for the Golden State Valkyries, it was Kaitlyn Chen who made the final roster — and it is already looking like the right decision. While keeping both players would have strengthened the Valkyries' backcourt, which is lacking depth, head coach Natalie Nakase and the front office believed there was only room for one, and Chen is desperate to reward their faith.
The Golden State Valkyries won the hearts of many neutral fans throughout the WNBA's inaugural campaign. Kate Martin played an integral role in that relationship. While the fans loved what the former Iowa guard represented, her production did not match the franchise's future vision of success. Martin averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and one assist per game, while shooting 32.3% from the floor.
In Martin’s defense, her role in the rotation played a major part in those numbers. However, it now appears there was a reason for that, as coach Natalie Nakase did not view the 26-year-old as a long-term piece -- unlike Kaitlyn Chen.
Kaitlyn Chen took full advantage of her opportunity to shine
Much like Kate Martin, Chen had to settle for a bit-part role in the rotation during the Valkyries' debut season. As a matter of fact, the 2025 third-round selection had to settle for just 10.3 minutes on the court per game. During this time, Chen's impact was minimal -- recording two points, 0.9 rebounds, and one assist during each appearance.
Given numbers like these, it is clear why many fans believed Chen would be waived instead of Martin. Nevertheless, this was not the way the story ended, and during Golden State's 91-80 victory over the Seattle Storm, Chen showed exactly why her services were retained. In 16 minutes of action, the UConn alum scored 14 points while hitting two of three shots from deep.
With Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton, and Janelle Salaün on the roster, the Valkyries required a guard who could space the floor and play off players who can both stretch the floor and dominate in the paint. Chen already showed in just one game that she was capable of this, and naturally, these are attributes that will flourish the more she links up with her teammates on the floor.
While one good performance from Kaitlyn Chen will alleviate some of the pressure on her shoulders for being picked over Kate Martin, there is still a long way to go in the season. However, what this game did show was the clear work Kaitlyn Chen has put in over the offseason to carve out a more prominent role in the rotation. The Golden State Valkyries may not be title contenders come the end of the year, but they are constructing a highly competitive roster.
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