Kate Martin will likely be playing for her third WNBA team in as many seasons.
The Golden State Valkyries waived Martin on Thursday as rosters are being trimmed and finalized ahead of the start of the WNBA’s regular season.
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During the preseason, Martin had been battling a right quad strain. She did tally eight points, seven rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes of actions against the Seattle Storm on April 25.
Martin — who played with superstar Caitlin Clark at Iowa — has become a bit of a fan favorite among WNBA fans during her two seasons in the league. Her underdog story began at the 2024 WNBA Draft, where she showed up with no expectation of being picked and was there to simply support Clark. But in the second round with the 18th overall pick, the Las Vegas Aces drafted Martin.
The 6-foot guard from Edwardsville, Illinois, had a decent rookie season, mostly coming off the bench for the then-two-time defending champs. Martin averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 35% from 3-point land. She started twice for the Aces, averaging 10 points, five rebounds and 3.5 assists across those two games.
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2018: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)
Golden State liked Martin enough to select her with the sixth overall pick in their expansion draft ahead of the 2025 season. She started in four games and came off the bench in 38 others, averaging 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per game. Martin scored in double figures in 12 games for the Valkyries and shot 31% from 3-point range.
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Martin was seventh in both scoring and rebounding for Golden State last season, which made the playoffs in its first season in the WNBA.
At Iowa, Martin started in 139 of the 169 games she played in for the Hawkeyes. Alongside Clark, Martin was instrumental in helping Iowa reach back-to-back national title games. In her final two college seasons, the All-Big Ten selection shot 49% from the floor, 39% from 3-point land and 84% from the free throw line while averaging 10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Waiving Martin is the latest newsy transaction the Valkyries have been involved in. Last week, the club waived both of its second round draft picks in Marta Suarez and Ashlon Jackson. Suarez joined the Phoenix Mercury on a developmental deal, while Jackson landed with the Connecticut Sun on a developmental deal.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Iowa star Kate Martin waived by Golden State Valkyries