How Valkyries' Kate Martin graduated from Caitlin Clark sidekick to WNBA celeb
While Martin was buried on the stacked Aces depth chart, she should see more playing time with the Valkyries. She played 34 games (two starts) with Las Vegas last season, averaging 11.5 minutes per game with a team where she played behind Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Tiffany Hayes. Martin averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game and shot 35.5% from 3-point distance. While the Aces were without Gray for 10 games last season, Martin averaged 19.3 minutes and made 37% of her 3-point attempts.
Those numbers don’t scream superstar, but Martin has become one of the WNBA’s fan favorites because of her engaging social media and humble beginnings as Clark’s No. 2 during Iowa’s Final Four run in 2024. After the Valkyries announced new merchandise on their Instagram page, the comments were flooded with people asking when they could buy Martin jerseys. When Martin’s name was announced during the expansion draft, the gathered crowd let out the loudest cheers of the afternoon.
“This league is all about opportunity and you just need one shot, right?” Martin said after she was drafted. “I’m very thankful for the Aces and everything that I got to learn there, but I am really excited for this new beginning and to build something from the ground up with the Valkyries.”
Martin was selected in the second round by Las Vegas after not expecting to hear her name on draft night. In New York to celebrate Clark being the top overall pick to Indiana, Martin was shocked when the Aces called on her.
Since then, Martin has earned a reputation as a hard worker with the ability to shoot 3s and play solid defense. Though her role at the Aces was largely to hit corner 3-pointers off the bench, Martin was also known in college for her ability to drive to the basket and draw fouls.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/valkyries-kate-martin-went-caitlin-clark-20052735.php
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