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Sparks sign Kate Martin to player development contract
TL;DR
The Los Angeles Sparks have signed guard Kate Martin to a player development contract after her release from the Golden State Valkyries. Martin previously played for the University of Iowa, contributing to two national championship game appearances.
Key points
- Los Angeles Sparks sign Kate Martin to player development contract
- Martin previously played for Golden State Valkyries
- She played college basketball at the University of Iowa
- Martin contributed to two national championship game appearances
- She has played 76 WNBA games in her career
Mentioned in this story
University of Iowa
Los Angeles SparksGolden State ValkyriesKate Martin
Apr 30, 2026; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin (20) during media day at the Sephora Performance Center.
(Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images)
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Sparks added depth and shooting to their backcourt on Sunday, signing guard Kate Martin to a player development contract following her release from the Golden State Valkyries earlier this week.
Martin, who played collegiately at the University of Iowa and helped lead the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship game appearances, joins Los Angeles after appearing in 76 WNBA games across her first two professional seasons.
“Kate is a gifted shooter, whose grittiness and winning history mesh well with Sparks basketball,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said in a statement. “She’s confident in her shot, plays tenacious defense and is an unselfish, high-energy teammate. We’re eager to watch Kate develop within our system.”
Martin was selected by the Las Vegas Aces with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft after a standout career at Iowa alongside former Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark. As a rookie in Las Vegas, Martin carved out a role as a reliable perimeter shooter, connecting on 35.5% of her 3-point attempts while shooting 91.7% from the free-throw line.
Before the 2025 season, Martin was selected by Golden State in the WNBA expansion draft. She averaged 6.2 points per game with the Valkyries before being waived Thursday.
Q&A
Why did the Los Angeles Sparks sign Kate Martin?
The Sparks signed Kate Martin to add depth and shooting to their backcourt following her release from the Golden State Valkyries.
What is Kate Martin's background in college basketball?
Kate Martin played at the University of Iowa, where she helped lead the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship game appearances.
How many WNBA games has Kate Martin played?
Kate Martin has appeared in 76 WNBA games across her first two professional seasons.
