Kate Martin receives praise from the WNBA, following the Golden State Valkyries game.
The WNBA Gives Kate Martin Praise Athlon Sports first reported on the Golden State Valkyries Game. In sports, expansion teams typically have a terrible first season. However, this season, the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA have shown unexpected competition. They ended a four-game losing streak on Thursday by narrowly defeating the Washington Mystics, 68-67, to earn their second consecutive victory. They would be in the playoffs if they began today because they currently have the eighth-best record in the league, 13-13. On Thursday, two individuals in particular from Golden State stood out.
Kate Martin gave a strong performance. Kate Martin, a second-year guard, scored 14 points off the bench and made 4 of 10 field goals to lead Golden State. In 23 minutes, she added two assists, five rebounds, and a steal. She had trouble shooting in the fourth quarter, as Golden State only managed six points and almost blew a 17-point lead. However, it turned out that her layup with 7:41 remaining in the period was just enough protection.
Martin had a lackluster college career at Iowa before being selected in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. In her final season there, she averaged 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, but she was fortunate enough to play with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, which allowed her to play in consecutive NCAA women’s national championship games.
The stat sheet was completed by Veronica Burton. Another key player in the Valkyries’ victory on Thursday was Burton, a 5-foot-9 guard who was once selected seventh overall in the 2022 draft. She had ten points, ten assists, seven rebounds, and one block. Burton and Martin received a shout-out on X from the WNBA for leading their team to victory.
This pair did a fantastic job. In D.C., Kate Martin and Veronica Burton took the initiative to finish it! #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/4GQMdIl8Kn — August 1, 2025 WNBA (@WNBA) In 2025, Burton might be finding her footing after putting up poor numbers in her first three years in the WNBA. She is averaging 10.7 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game so far this season.
The Valkyries are triumphing the old-fashioned way.
As might be expected given their lack of talent, the Valkyries have been depending on their tried-and-true method of winning games: defense. They rank third in opponents’ points per game and fourth in defensive rating because first-year coach Natalie Nakase has made them focus on that end of the court. They lead in overall rebounding percentage, which shows that they also pound the boards.
