WNBA Fans Upset With Valkyries' Kate Martin Decision
Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin has experienced highs and lows in her second WNBA season. Selected by Golden State from the Las Vegas Aces in the Expansion Draft, Martin projected to get a bigger opportunity in year two than she did as a rookie.
Playing just 11.5 minutes per game last season for Las Vegas, Martin averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds. She has seen her playing time increase with the Valkyries — up to 16.7 minutes this season — but her role has been anything but consistent.
After starting against the Indiana Fever last week, which was seemingly a reward for her strong play leading up to that game, Martin played just 13 minutes against the Aces on Saturday before receiving a season-low five minutes against the Phoenix Mercury on Monday.
Martin has a large following from her time alongside Caitlin Clark at Iowa, and many fans are upset with Golden State deciding to reduce her minutes. This was voiced on social media amid Golden State’s loss to Phoenix.
"Ain’t no way I stayed up just to watch five minutes of Kate Martin," said one fan.
"How does Kate Martin get only 5 minutes?" one asked.
"Why Kate Martin only get 4 minutes!?" asked another.
Fought til the final buzzer. The final out of Ballhalla. pic.twitter.com/H6jcFI5LlM
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) July 15, 2025
These comments persistent during and after the game.
"Kate Martin with 5 mins?!" asked another.
"Should have played Kate Martin more minutes but what do I know?" wrote another fan.
"Genuinely would like to know Kate Martin’s continued diminishing minutes when she’s played well," said another. "And it’s not match up dependent, that’s just a cop out."
Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.