The Golden State Valkyries made one of the more controversial moves of the WNBA offseason when they released former Iowa star Kate Martin.
The 25-year-old guard was cut just days before the season opener, much to the dismay of Valkyries fans. The move was so unpopular, in fact, that the team lost more than 150,000 followers across its social media platforms.
Martin wasn’t unemployed long though as she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. Speaking to reporters shortly after inking her new deal, Martin opened up on the rollercoaster of getting cut from a team she loved to signing with a new one.
“It was not easy at all,” Martin told reporters. “It happened on Wednesday, and obviously it’s a business decision — that’s what professional sports is, it’s a business — and I just had to do what was best for me and my career. So I just felt [signing with L.A.] was the best decision for me and I’m very excited to be here 1000% and I’m definitely going to give it my all.”
Martin joins a revamped Sparks roster that signed Nneka Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins in free agency, res-signed star Kelsey Plum to a one-year, $999,999 deal, and added South Carolina shooting guard Ta’Niya Latson, Ohio State guard Chance Gray, and Kentucky forward Amelia Hassett via the WNBA draft.
Martin also knows some of the Sparks players quite well — something she said made her decision to sign with the team a little easier.
“They wanted me here, and I had really good talks with (head) coach (Lynne) Roberts,” Martin added. “I felt confident in my decision because of the way they approached me and thought I would fit well into this system.
“… Even though I literally just got here, it’s really nice [having pre-existing relationships]. It’s not like I’m a rookie coming to a brand-new team. I do feel some comfort in knowing some people.”
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