”Proud of You”: Kate Martin Honors Her Colleague Following the historic milestone, Kate Martin, a guard for the Golden State Valkyries, has established herself as a dynamic player and an even more dynamic teammate.
This week, she demonstrated that side once more when she wrote a heartfelt message to her teammate Tiffany Hayes, who recently cemented her name in WNBA history.
The league’s all-time scoring list now includes Hayes, a seasoned veteran whose career earnings reportedly exceeded $200,000 this season, surpassing the great Sheryl Swoopes. Hayes gracefully drained a midrange jumper that sent the crowd and her teammates into a frenzy, marking the milestone in style.
Martin posted the succinct but impactful message, “Proud of you,” on Instagram just minutes after the game. No lengthy captions or hashtags. After the moment, there were only three words and a picture of Hayes smiling.
Fans responded favorably to Martin’s message. Supporters of Valkyries praised the two players’ bond in the comments that poured in beneath the post. One fan commented, “That’s leadership right there.” “Kate always lifting her people up — love to see it,” said another. While Martin is still early in her WNBA journey, moments like this show why she’s valued far beyond her stat line.
She is aware that support is the foundation of culture, which in turn is the foundation of championships. One of the things that keeps a locker room close-knit is celebrating each other’s victories, no matter how small.
For Hayes, the evening represented a significant personal achievement; for Martin, it was about ensuring that everyone took the time to recognize it; and for Valkyries supporters, it served as yet another reminder that the team’s camaraderie is every bit as fascinating as its on-court performance.
