HAWKEYE BIGGEST SHOCKER: Addi O’Grady Breaks the Silence and Declares Her Professional Transfer to GSV to Start Her WNBA Career — The prospect of a Kate Martin reunion in Golden State has Hawkeye Nation in a frenzy! Hawkeye Nation recently received a shock it wasn’t aware it needed.
The 6’4″ forward Addison “Addi” O’Grady, who played for Iowa her whole career, has formally declared that she will be taking her skills to the professional ranks and not just anywhere. O’Grady’s announcement that she would be joining the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest team, ignited the internet and sparked hopes of a Hawkeye reunion with Kate Martin, a fan favorite.
Iowa fans are already quoting O’Grady’s statement, “This feels like the right time,” everywhere. “I want to push myself, continue developing, and compete in the WNBA with that Hawkeye mentality.” Indeed, nothing would please me more than to play with Kate once more.
That final sentence? It was sufficient to send all Iowa message boards, Instagram, and Twitter into complete meltdown mode. The storyline of Martin and O’Grady possibly playing together again, this time on a professional stage, has the potential to excite not only Iowa fans but the WNBA as a whole.
The Hawkeyes are going through a significant roster overhaul at the time of O’Grady’s move. Jan Jensen is dealing with her first real rebuild as head coach, with Lucy Olsen leaving for the WNBA, Sydney Affolter and AJ Ediger graduating, and Aaliyah Guyton going through the transfer portal.
However, O’Grady’s announcement transformed her departure into a celebration rather than a silent farewell that faded into the background. One fan commented on X, “This is the biggest offseason headline we could have asked for.” “Addi merits this opportunity. And if she links up with Kate? Ignore it. Tomorrow, I’m going to buy Valkyries merchandise.
Golden State, on the other hand, receives precisely what an expansion team requires: a successful post player with size, toughness, and winning team experience. O’Grady contributed rim protection and consistent scoring in the paint, which helped Iowa make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. Her skill set should be a perfect fit in a league where versatile bigs are highly valued.
Additionally, the action carries on a tradition of Iowa athletes succeeding at a higher level. The Indiana Fever’s face is already Caitlin Clark. Before being selected in the expansion draft by Golden State, Kate Martin established herself as a spark plug for the Las Vegas Aces. O’Grady now has the opportunity to demonstrate her suitability for the professional stage.
It’s both the end of an era and the beginning of something new for Iowa fans, so it’s bittersweet. With a new franchise, a beloved college star, and a possible reunion, the WNBA’s story is geared toward creating the most buzz possible. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the event. Hawkeye Nation is louder than ever, even though the McKale Center is quiet right now.
