Guard Kate Martin has inked a player development deal with the Los Angeles Sparks, as announced on Sunday, just three days after being released by the Golden State Valkyries.
Martin, who was a teammate of Caitlin Clark during their college days at Iowa, was selected as the 18th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces.
During her rookie season, she appeared in 34 games (two starts) for the Aces, averaging 2.6 points while shooting 35.5% from beyond the arc over 11.5 minutes per game. The Valkyries later chose her in the expansion draft, and she posted averages of 6.2 points in 42 games (four starts) across 16.4 minutes last season.
“Kate is a gifted shooter, whose toughness and winning background are a great fit for Sparks basketball,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley stated. “She is confident in her shot, plays hard-nosed defense, and is a selfless, high-energy teammate. We look forward to watching Kate grow within our system.”
Martin made history as the first Iowa women’s basketball player to record at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 120 steals, and 60 blocks in her collegiate career.
WNBA franchises are permitted to have two developmental roster slots, enabling internal training pathways that operate outside the salary cap. Players on these contracts can be activated for up to 12 games during the regular season.
