Current Coach Jan Jensen and Former Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder Give Valkyries Audacious Advice After the Aces Showdown, Natalie Nakase — Amid escalating rivalries, Kate Martin becomes a trade target. LAS VEGAS— After a fierce Western Conference matchup between the Golden State Valkyries and the Las Vegas Aces, emotions were running high, but for two familiar faces in the crowd, the game was more than just a contest; it was a moment of reckoning.
Both current Hawkeyes coach Jan Jensen, who coached Kate Martin during her college career, and former Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder attended and didn’t mince words afterwards. The pair gave Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase scathing but considerate counsel, particularly regarding Martin’s future and the team’s part in determining it.
After the game, Bluder reportedly told a team staffer, “They might as well trade her and get something for her now if you’re not going to protect her for the expansion draft.” Only six players can be protected this year. They must prepare ahead of time, but I hope she is one of them. The remark coincides with growing conjecture that Martin might be traded to by a number of competing teams.
Martin has officially entered the WNBA rumor mill after recording 14 points, six rebounds, and a pivotal defensive stop against the Aces in the closing minutes of the game. Her former coaches are making it clear that it would be a mistake to undervalue her. Jensen went on to say, “Kate is a builder, not just a glue player.”
She contributes clutch plays, chemistry, and culture. Someone else will see that if Golden State doesn’t. All the elements of a developing rivalry were present in the Aces-Valkyries game: aggressive plays, intense sidelines, and engaged fan bases. Martin stood in the center of it all, composed yet fierce, displaying traits of the same leadership she showed during Iowa’s deep tournament runs.
It will be interesting to see if the Valkyries decide to trade her, protect her, or risk exposure in the upcoming draft. However, it is now evident that Kate Martin’s worth is no longer being overlooked. The league is observing. Her mentors are speaking up. Additionally, Golden State’s front office needs to make a decision quickly.
