"Why sit on the bench when you can play at the EuroBasket?": Kyara Linskens' father makes stunning statement after Valkyries star's abrupt departure

The Golden State Valkyries center, Kyara Linskens, has been released by the team for her duties for EuroBasket. According to a tweet by @valkyriesreport on Sunday, the decision was mutual between Linskens and the team in light of her decision to return to Belgium to prepare for EuroBasket.

However, it seems like Linskens' decision wasn't entirely based on her obligation to represent her country in a prestigious FIBA European Basketball Championship.

Linskens' father, Jerry Linskens, provided more details about the rookie's decision. According to Linskens, his daughter decided to return to her home country for EuroBasket because she wasn't getting enough playing time with her WNBA team.

"Why sit on the bench when you can play at the Eurobasket tournament?" Jerry Linskens wrote in the comment. "Yesterday she informed the Valkyries that she immediately returns to Belgium. The rest is history."

Linskens was drafted by Golden State for the 2025 season. She led Belgium to the EuroBasket title in 2023 and won the Finals MVP award. Given her impressive resume in European basketball, she made the final cut for the roster.

In four games for her WNBA team, Linskens averaged 1.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.8 minutes.

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Kate Martin continues her impressive run in the Valkyries' blowout win against Aces

Kate Martin is finally getting in her comfort zone with the Golden State Valkyries. The first two games saw the young star missing all her shots in a total of 20 minutes. Her total of two points came from free throws.

However, since then Martin has picked herself up. Although she has yet to scratch the tougher surface to let her defense speak, she has been great on the offensive end. In her last five games, the WNBA star has averaged 9.8 points and 3.8 rebounds and has already scored in double-digits three times in those five-game stretch.

In her last game against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, Martin was faced against her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, and she played like she had something to prove. In a Valkyries' 27-point blowout win (95-68), Martin scored 12 points in 26 minutes on 45.5 FG%, including seven rebounds.

Martin's numbers might not seem too high. However, given her stats in the Aces' uniform, she has doubled her scoring number and earned more minutes. She scored her season-high 14 points earlier this month against the Minnesota Lynx, the best team in the league with a 9-0 record.

She will look to extend her scoring streak when her team faces the LA Sparks at Crypto.com arena on Tuesday.