South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley isn't one to stay silent when she feels her players are being disrespected—and a recent social media post about WNBA roster cuts proved that once again.
On May 7, the Golden State Valkyries made the difficult decision to waive guard Kate Martin as they finalized their roster ahead of the 2026 WNBA season. The move caught many by surprise, especially considering Martin was a fan favorite and one of the first players selected by Golden State during the 2024 expansion draft.
Martin's debut season with the Valkyries showed flashes of promise but was marked by inconsistency. When preseason arrived, she was also dealing with a right quad strain—an injury that likely impacted her performance. In her final preseason outing on April 25 against the Seattle Storm, Martin put up eight points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 23 minutes of action.
Ultimately, the Valkyries chose to keep players who were initially considered on the bubble, including former UConn guard Kaitlin Chen and South Carolina alum Laeticia Amihere. When one reporter shared his analysis framing the decision as "Chen and Amihere making the cut over Martin," Staley quickly fired back on X (formerly Twitter).
"Not cool to actually use other players' names, specifically Laeticia Amihere, for your personal preface. I hope (that) if you cover the Valkyries, you can unbiasedly do so moving forward," Staley wrote.
It's no surprise Staley came to Amihere's defense—she has a well-documented history of standing up for her former players, both on and off the court. But the exchange sparked a larger conversation among fans and analysts about the tough decisions expansion teams face when building a competitive roster.
Many pointed out that the Valkyries were in a difficult spot, with Amihere, Chen, and Martin all battling for just two roster spots. In any scenario, one player's name was going to be mentioned in the context of another's release.
Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase later offered some insight into the team's thinking, highlighting how Chen's offseason dedication and work ethic made a strong impression. While the roster decisions were tough, they reflect the competitive nature of the WNBA—and the passion that coaches like Staley bring to defending their players every step of the way.