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Iowa womenâs basketball fans react to Kate Martin's new WNBA contract
TL;DR
Kate Martin has signed a player development contract with the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2026 WNBA season. Fans are excitedly reacting on social media, celebrating her new opportunity after being waived by the Golden State Valkyries.
Key points
- Kate Martin signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
- She was previously waived by the Golden State Valkyries
- The contract allows her to play in up to 12 games
- Fans are expressing excitement on social media
- The deal does not affect the team's salary cap
Mentioned in this story
Los Angeles SparksGolden State ValkyriesKate Martin
After the Los Angeles Sparks announced on May 10 that they had signed former Iowa women's basketball star Kate Martin to a player development contract for the 2026 WNBA season, here are some of the best social media reactions from fans across the nation who took to social media to express their excitement and congratulate the former Hawkeye on the newest chapter in her professional career. Martin, who was waived by Golden State on Thursday, May 7, due primarily to a Grade II quad strain suffered on April 28, limiting her ability to immediately impact the Valkyries' current squad. Now that she is a part of the Sparks' organization, the well-traveled guard will play for her third WNBA franchise in as many years. It is also important to note that the player development deal operates differently from a traditional contract: Martin has access to everything available to her new teammates but can play in up to 12 games once activated. This type of contract was introduced in the newly codified collective bargaining agreement, which allows teams to carry up to two developmental players who do not affect the franchise's salary cap and provide depth in the event of injuries.
â Brandon Ramirez (@bram6212) May 10, 2026 Ohhh fever you missed the chance. Thank u spark for this. See you kate in next game
â Lucy (@Lucy17763471265) May 10, 2026 And suddenly, just like that
The Sparks gained 150k twitter followers
â CC Report (@cc22report) May 10, 2026 Yesssiiirrr Money!! â¨â¨
â Raina Harmon (@Raina15) May 10, 2026 đđđđ
Q&A
What is Kate Martin's new contract with the Los Angeles Sparks?
Kate Martin signed a player development contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, allowing her to participate in up to 12 games during the 2026 WNBA season.
Why was Kate Martin waived by the Golden State Valkyries?
Kate Martin was waived by the Golden State Valkyries primarily due to a Grade II quad strain that limited her ability to contribute to the team.
How does a player development contract work in the WNBA?
A player development contract allows players to access team resources while not affecting the franchise's salary cap, enabling them to play in a limited number of games.
