Natalie Nakase hails Kate Martin's grit as blueprint for turning dreams into reality via hard work: "Didn't know she was going to get drafted"

The Golden State Valkyries have quickly become one of the WNBA’s early success stories, with the expansion franchise holding a 9-8 record through 17 games, good for sixth place in the league, ahead of both the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces.

One of the team's surprises has been Kate Martin, a former Las Vegas Ace who has flourished in the Golden State. While she had a minimal role in Vegas, Martin has emerged as a valuable bench contributor for the Valkyries.

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase praised Martin’s rise following their 82-71 defeat to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Saturday — a game where Martin tallied five points, two rebounds and two steals, snapping her career-best three-game streak of scoring in double digits.

"Anything is possible,” Nakase said of Martin (per Moreau Sports Media Prod Co). “Kate did not know she was going to get drafted, … this is what can happen if you work really hard and focus on your goals. Kate is a great example of your dreams can come true."

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Kate Martin was a college teammate of Caitlin Clark at Iowa, and both entered the WNBA in the same draft, with Martin selected 18th by the Aces. During her rookie year, she played sparingly, averaging 2.6 points across 11.5 minutes per game.

Natalie Nakase says Kate Martin was a top priority in expansion draft

When Golden State entered the WNBA and held its expansion draft, Natalie Nakase made clear that Martin was at the top of her list.

"She was my No. 1 priority from Vegas," Nakase said (per Hawk Central). "In the expansion draft, we handpicked players that embody our culture: hard-working, mental toughness and ultra-competitive.

"Kate fits all of those. Kate is our culture."

Martin, in turn, has responded with appreciation and determination to contribute.

"You know, I'm grateful to be here," Martin said (per Hawk Central). "My goal is always to make an impact and be a good teammate, so no matter how big or small my role is, I'm doing the dang thing and trying to do it to the best of my ability.

"Obviously, I know I always have room to grow, but also it's only my second year, and I'm just doing exactly what my team needs of me right now."

Kate Martin's breakout performance came on June 25 against the New York Liberty, where she poured in a career-high 21 points, including four 3-pointers, in a narrow three-point loss. It marked her first 20-point game in the WNBA.

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

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Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro