The Los Angeles Sparks have made a savvy move to bolster their backcourt, signing sharpshooting guard Kate Martin to a player development contract on Sunday. The move comes just days after Martin was released by the Golden State Valkyries, giving the Sparks an opportunity to add both depth and perimeter firepower to their roster.
Martin, who starred at the University of Iowa and helped lead the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship appearances, brings a winning pedigree and a gritty style of play to Los Angeles. In her first two professional seasons, the 6-foot guard has appeared in 76 WNBA games, showcasing the versatility that made her a standout in college.
"Kate is a gifted shooter, whose grittiness and winning history mesh well with Sparks basketball," said Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley. "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."
Originally selected 18th overall by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Martin quickly carved out a reputation as a reliable perimeter shooter. As a rookie, she knocked down 35.5% of her 3-point attempts and shot an impressive 91.7% from the free-throw line. Before the 2025 season, she was selected by Golden State in the expansion draft, where she averaged 6.2 points per game before being waived earlier this week.
Martin’s college résumé at Iowa is nothing short of historic. She became the first women’s basketball player in program history to record at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 120 steals, and 60 blocks in a career. Beyond the numbers, the Illinois native was the emotional heartbeat of the Hawkeyes during their memorable runs to the NCAA title game, playing alongside superstar Caitlin Clark.
The Sparks signed Martin to one of the WNBA’s player development pool spots, a roster mechanism designed to cultivate talent outside the salary cap. Teams can carry up to two developmental players, who practice with the club, receive stipends and benefits, and can be activated for up to 12 regular-season games. For Los Angeles, this is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity to develop a proven winner.
Under first-year head coach Lynne Roberts, the Sparks are focused on rebuilding their roster with versatile, high-energy players who fit the organization's emphasis on toughness and teamwork. Martin’s arrival fits that blueprint perfectly, adding a confident shooter and tenacious defender to a team hungry for depth and experience.
Whether she’s knocking down threes from the corner or diving for loose balls, Martin’s "grittiness" and "winning history" might just be the spark the Sparks need as they look to turn the page on a new era.