As many WNBA fans remember, Kate Martin had the kind of WNBA Draft night that sounds like something out of a story. Martin showed up to the draft to support teammate her Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark, who was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. Martin ended up being drafted to the Golden State Valkyries, something that seemed to some as a genuine surprise.
Since then Martin has endeared herself to fans in the Bay Area and proven she's adept at both creating and balacing the team's culture. She's also a solid performer on the floor, which begs the question: why hasn't the team execised her fourth-year option?
Doing so would lock Martin in, and would mean that her contract with Golden State is protected and guaranteed next year. Most of the rookies who were drafted alongside Martin and who are still playing in the league have had their fourth-year options exercised; the lone exceptions to date are Clark and the Sparks' Cameron Brink, both of whom are expected to see those options exercised soon.
Teams have until June to make the decision, and it's likely that there's some negotiation that's going on behind the scenes. But unlike Clark and Brink, there are some who believe Martin might not be on a WNBA roster at all this year — something that's difficult to believe given her fan support, but not as difficult to understand when the realities of Golden State's roster are realized.
Though they didn't make the huge splash they hoped for during free agency (landing Gabby Willliams was huge, but Natalie Nakase alluded to the team hoping others would want to play in the Bay Area), the Valkyries have a roster that can truly be described as deep. Martin's teammates Tiffany Hayes, Kaila Charles, and Juste Joycte are all ahead of her at the 2, and four players — Williams, Kayla Thornton, Janelle Salaun, and Cecilia Zandalisini — are ahead of her at the 3.
That leaves Martin without a clearly defined role on the team. She's not the only player facing this dilemma; the Valkyries also need to decide what to do with Kaitlyn Chen, Marta Suarez, Ashlon Jackson, Laeticia Amihere, and Miela Sowah. That's six players (including Martin) who are potentially vying for the same two available spots. The Valkyries don't have a backup point guard, so Chen appears to have a good shot at making the team — but that means either Martin or Suarez (who was involved in the Flau'jae Johnson trade with the Storm) may have to go.
This time of the year is notoriously tough on teams as make decisions that are necessary. If she doesn't make it at Golden State, Martin will have the opportunity to be picked up by other teams in the league. She's more than proven she can join a brand new team and thrive, and it's likely someone will be happy to give her a home.
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