Martin was diagnosed with a Grade 2 quad strain sustained during training camp, the team announced, and will be evaluated next Tuesday. The Valkyries open their season against the Seattle Storm on May 8.
“She’s in amazing spirits,” head coach Natalie Nakase said Tuesday. “Kate knows, no matter if you have a little soreness or are banged up, you’re still here and present.”
Martin, who isn’t participating in practice, has stayed involved with the team as a vocal leader as they prepare for the season’s start.
“I said, ‘Make sure you are going to be the energy monitor,’” Nakase said. “So today she was on top of it. She brings so much energy, so without Kate in it, she made sure she was on the sidelines, underneath in every huddle and constantly cheering her teammates on.”
Martin, 25, played 42 games for Golden State in 2025 primarily as a key bench contributor. She averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1 assist per game.
Also present on the sideline was Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy, who caught up with Nakase and Valkyries players who stopped by to chat.
Dunleavy and the Warriors front office are in the midst of an uncertain period after their season as rumors swirl around longtime head coach Steve Kerr’s return to the Warriors for a 13th season.
The Valkyries practice in the Oakland facility the Warriors used before their move to Chase Center in San Francisco, where the Valkyries play their games. The Sephora training facility has been revamped to fit the Valkyries’ purple, black and white color scheme. The Valkyries sometimes practice at Chase Center.
“Excited when you have the Warrior family here. It’s great to pick his brain, and obviously Steve opens the doors to us. He had a lot of us in training camp as well,” Nakase said. “Just discussing how things have changed for him. It’s completely different so he was complimenting that it’s changed here and it’s pretty much a Valkyries home court now.”