It didn’t take guard Kate Martin long to find a new WNBA team.
Just days after she was waived by the Golden State Valkyries, Martin has signed a player development contract with the Los Angeles Sparks.
The team announced the move in a news release issued on Sunday, May 10.
“Kate is a gifted shooter, whose grittiness and winning history mesh well with Sparks basketball,” Sparks GM Raegan Pebley said in a statement. “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.”
Callie Fin poses on the Las Vegas Aces’ court at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Callie Fin interviews Aces forward NaLyssa Smith following a practice at T-Mobile Arena.
A very swollen Callie Fin poses with friend and former track & field teammate Kenady Jackson, during halftime of An Aces game at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Callie Fin interviews Aces star A’ja Wilson following a practice at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Callie Fin on the court at Michelob Ultra Arena following Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.
Callie Fin hides behind her peers in a group photo. USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall is to the right of her, and USA TODAY’s Cydney Henderson is in the middle of the group.
Callie Fin covering NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center with popcorn for a morning sickness-friendly snack on July 17, 2025, exactly halfway through her pregnancy.
Callie Fin takes a mirror selfie in the bathrooms at Michelob Ultra Arena after a WNBA Finals practice.
Callie Fin in the emergency wing of Southern Hills hospital in Las Vegas on Oct. 14, disoriented and uncomfortable, but relieved to be receiving care.
Callie receiving support from her husband during difficult moments of delivery in the early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2025.
Callie Fin, her baby, and all of the world’s baby gear, solo traveling at the airport Feb. 6, 2026, returning to Las Vegas from a trip to San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
Callie Fin and her newborn son on Oct. 30, 2025. Getting in skin-to-skin while Callie checks that her Aces articles were published while she was in the hospital.
Callie Fin taking a break from working on two laptops while nursing her son and getting ready to go cover a basketball game on Jan. 24, 2026, during her second week back from maternity leave.
Callie Fin, her husband and her infant son, enjoying a picnic in Las Vegas in April.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin poses on the Las Vegas Aces’ court at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin poses on the Las Vegas Aces’ court at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin interviews Aces forward NaLyssa Smith following a practice at T-Mobile Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
A very swollen Callie Fin poses with friend and former track & field teammate Kenady Jackson, during halftime of An Aces game at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin interviews Aces star A’ja Wilson following a practice at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin on the court at Michelob Ultra Arena following Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin hides behind her peers in a group photo. USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall is to the right of her, and USA TODAY’s Cydney Henderson is in the middle of the group.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin covering NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center with popcorn for a morning sickness-friendly snack on July 17, 2025, exactly halfway through her pregnancy.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin takes a mirror selfie in the bathrooms at Michelob Ultra Arena after a WNBA Finals practice.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin in the emergency wing of Southern Hills hospital in Las Vegas on Oct. 14, disoriented and uncomfortable, but relieved to be receiving care.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie receiving support from her husband during difficult moments of delivery in the early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2025.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin, her baby, and all of the world’s baby gear, solo traveling at the airport Feb. 6, 2026, returning to Las Vegas from a trip to San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin and her newborn son on Oct. 30, 2025. Getting in skin-to-skin while Callie checks that her Aces articles were published while she was in the hospital.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin taking a break from working on two laptops while nursing her son and getting ready to go cover a basketball game on Jan. 24, 2026, during her second week back from maternity leave.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin, her husband and her infant son, enjoying a picnic in Las Vegas in April.
A fan favorite, Martin was somewhat surprisingly cut as the Valkyries finalized their roster ahead of the start of the 2026 WNBA season. The team had selected Martin as one of the first players taken in the 2024 WNBA expansion draft.
However, Martin’s first season with the team was inconsistent production-wise, and when preseason rolled around, she was battling a right quad strain.
Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin (20) waits for play to resume against the Seattle Storm in the first quarter at Chase Center on April 25, 2026.
Martin, a college teammate of Caitlin Clark’s at Iowa, averaged 6.2 points per game off the bench for the Valkyries in 2025.
WNBA teams have two developmental spots available on their rosters for players who can practice, receive benefits and can be activated for up to 12 games.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kate Martin finds a new home with Sparks after Valkyries exit
