LOS ANGELES — Just days following her unexpected release by the Golden State Valkyries, guard Kate Martin has secured a developmental contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, providing the former first-round selection a new chance to establish a more lasting position in the league.
The contract, allowed by the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, lets Martin practice and travel with the Sparks for roughly 12 games while she competes for a roster spot. She will earn a weekly stipend of $750 and a prorated salary of $6,000, according to Yahoo Sports. This is a key chance to prove herself for a playoff-hungry team.
“A lot of heartache. Kate was our family member and someone we cared about deeply,” Valkyries head caoch Natalie Nakase told reporters. “And we still do care deeply about Kate… It’s very hard because we are trying to construct the best team.”
Martin’s path to Los Angeles has been anything but linear. Drafted into the WNBA in 2024, she played for the Las Vegas Aces in 2024 and the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 before joining her current, third team in 2026. With the Valkyries in 2025, she averaged 6.2 points in 42 games and brought dependable energy off the bench. However, after a right quad strain during the 2026 preseason and a period of roster changes, she was waived.
“It was brutal,” Martin said as she fought back tears, reliving the experience of being waived. “It was a business decision. That’s what professional sports is. It’s a business. … It wasn’t an easy process, and now I feel like I can relate to a lot more people on a level I never wanted to be able to relate on. But it’s going to help me as a leader and a person going forward.” Her reflections illustrate the personal challenges that made her journey to the Sparks even more meaningful.
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts praised Martin’s on-court ability and, perhaps more importantly, her “coaching-type” mindset that can help develop younger players and lift the second unit. That intangible leadership and high-energy play is exactly what Los Angeles hopes will give them an edge; the Sparks have missed the playoffs for four straight seasons and are assembling pieces to break the drought. Martin’s blend of resilience and skill fits this organizational vision.
One of Martin’s former coaches praised her and her abilities. Aces head coach Becky Hammon, whose team originally brought Martin into the league before the expansion draft. “Kate [Martin] is great. She’s great in the locker room, a great teammate, and a super hard worker. She’s somebody who came in with pro habits. From college, that’s hard to do. But she came in and was a nice piece for us. Obviously, Golden State snatched her from us in the expansion draft. I know that was for sure a tough cut for Nat [Natalie Nakase]. I know she cares a lot about Kate, and I’m not surprised. The kid’s going to land on her feet wherever she goes. She’s just that kind of winner,” Hammon said.
At Sparks practice, Martin will join a veteran core that includes two‑time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, and future Hall-of-Fame player Nneka Ogwumike. If Martin can provide the expected spark with the second unit — steady defense, timely scoring, and play making — she could become a key depth piece in a rotation built to compete in the loaded Western Conference.
Martin’s focus is simple: stay healthy, earn Coach Roberts’ trust, and force the front office into a decision. Although the developmental deal is short and the margin for error slim, for someone who has endured injury and roster changes, it’s another chance to prove herself—and possibly make Los Angeles her home.
The Sparks host the Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Wednesday at 7:30PM at Staples Center.
