Kate Martin Signs With Bendigo Spirit for Remainder of WNBL27 Season

Kate Martin is taking her basketball career overseas, with Australia set to be her next destination as the WNBA offseason gets underway. The American guard has signed with the Bendigo Spirit for the remainder of the WNBL27 season, giving the club an experienced addition as it works through an important change to its roster. The move is pending league approval, and Martin is expected to arrive in Australia on Friday, November 13.

Martin will join Bendigo as a replacement for Abbey Wehrung, who is set to miss the rest of the season. Her arrival gives the Spirit another option in the backcourt while the team adjusts to Wehrung’s absence. Although the signing is still subject to approval, the agreement offers Martin an opportunity to continue playing competitively during the WNBA break and to make an immediate contribution in a different basketball environment.

For Martin, the move marks another chapter in a professional career that has already taken her through several WNBA organizations. She has spent three seasons in the league, most recently playing for the Chicago Sky. Before that latest stop, she had spells with the Golden State, Los Angeles and Las Vegas organizations. Those experiences have exposed her to different teams and settings, and the Bendigo opportunity will add an international chapter to that journey.

The move reflects a familiar path for players who want to keep competing during the WNBA offseason. Many professionals use the months between domestic seasons to play overseas, maintaining match fitness and gaining valuable minutes. For Martin, joining the Spirit offers that opportunity while giving Bendigo a player with experience in the United States’ top women’s league.

Bendigo’s decision follows a difficult roster development. Wehrung’s expected absence leaves a place to fill, and the club has moved to bring in a replacement. Martin’s signing is intended to address that gap. Her arrival will give the coaching staff another guard to work with for the remaining fixtures, with her precise role likely to depend on the team’s needs and how quickly she settles in.

There will be an adjustment period. Moving between leagues means adapting to new teammates, coaching expectations and playing styles. Martin will also be joining a season already in progress after travelling from the United States. Her expected arrival date is Friday, November 13. From there, she can begin getting familiar with the team and its environment, subject to league approval.

The signing gives Australian fans an opportunity to watch a player whose professional career has included several WNBA stops. Martin’s time with Chicago, following earlier spells with Golden State, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, has given her experience across the league. The Bendigo stint will add an international dimension to that career.

For the Spirit, the focus will be on integrating Martin and managing the change created by Wehrung’s absence. A mid-season addition has to learn quickly, but Martin’s three WNBA seasons should help her understand the demands of professional basketball. Bendigo will hope she settles in and provides support for the rest of the campaign.

Joining mid-season can require a quick adjustment. Martin will need to build chemistry with teammates, learn the team’s systems and understand how best to contribute within its existing structure. That early work will be important as she settles into a new league and prepares to help Bendigo through the remaining games.

The move remains conditional on league approval, so that process is an important part of the announcement. Until approval is granted, the signing should be viewed as pending rather than fully finalized. Even so, Martin’s planned trip to Australia points to the next step in the arrangement and gives Bendigo a clear timeline as it prepares for her arrival.

Martin’s move to the Bendigo Spirit is more than a change of location for the offseason. It is a chance to keep competing, gain experience in another league and help a team dealing with a roster absence. With three WNBA seasons behind her, she will look to make the most of her time in Australia. If approval comes through, her arrival on November 13 will begin the next stage of her basketball journey and give the Spirit another experienced option for the remainder of WNBL27.