Second-year guard Kate Martin found herself in both a familiar and unfamiliar position when the Golden State Valkyries began training camp nearly a week ago. Martin, who was a surprise second-round pick by the Las Vegas Aces during the 2024 WNBA Draft, was selected as part of the Valkyries during the team's Expansion Draft in December. Fans have wondered ever since what exactly her role on the team will be — and, as it is wont to do, training camp is revealing all.
In an interview with the 6'0" guard, the San Francisco Chronicle dropped the tidbit fans have been waiting for: it's expected that Martin will come off the bench as a back-up guard for Tiffany Hayes, who she's previously played with at the Aces and at Unrivaled, where they were also teammates on the Laces BC.
The role works for the young hooper, who has both the fan base to put people in seats but also still has plenty to learn. If their social media antics are any indication, Martin and Hayes are close; it's likely the veteran guard is giving her younger counterpart every bit of information she can as the pair head into the team's inaugural season in the league.
Kate Martin is "meant for new things"
If anyone seems the happiest about her new role on the team, it's Martin herself. "I keep telling myself, ‘You’re meant for change,’" she told the outlet. "‘You’re meant for new things. You’re meant for challenges.’ And it’s been really fun to be able to challenge myself to see how quick I can pick up on things or adjust. ... At the end of the day, basketball is basketball. And so it’s not like I’m playing a brand new game.''
This confidence echoes what Martin told reporters following the Expansion Draft last year. She was quick to praise Coach Natalie Nakase, who she'd also just spent a season with in Las Vegas, and described her as "somebody you're going to run through a brick wall for."
The 24-year-old also didn't hold back when acknowledging herself and what she brings to the floor each night. "My ceiling is very high," she explained. "Coach Nakase hangs her hat on defense. I want to be able to be somebody who can lock down the number one or two option on other teams."
The Valkyries will be team-oriented
That combination of self-awareness and humility will likely serve Martin well this season. The Golden State Valkyries aren't being built around one star over another; the team doesn't necessarily boast one dominant face who represents everyone. Instead, the team is collaborative, made up of a group of women who know how to play basketball and who just might surprise those who expect them to come up incredibly short this season.
The chance to build a team from the very beginning is something that's only been afforded to a relatively small number of players in the WNBA, and in this respect and many others, the Valkyries are lucky. The team's 2025 season will be memorable no matter what, and Martin is a big part of the reason why.