Former Iowa women’s basketball standout Kate Martin has been waived by the Los Angeles Sparks, adding another unexpected chapter to what has been a difficult 2026 WNBA season for the former Hawkeye.
The Sparks made the decision on Aug. 29, ending Martin’s latest run with the Los Angeles franchise after she had spent much of the season trying to establish herself within the team. The move also means Martin has now been waived twice by WNBA teams during the same season.
Martin’s first setback came in May when the Golden State Valkyries released her. Rather than stepping away from the league, however, the former Iowa guard quickly found another opportunity in Los Angeles.
The Sparks initially brought Martin in on a player development contract. That arrangement gave her an opportunity to remain around the team and compete for a larger role, and she took advantage of it.
Her performances during that period were strong enough to convince Los Angeles to take the next step. The Sparks signed Martin to a standard contract on June 6, giving her another chance to prove she belonged on a WNBA roster.
Unfortunately, her circumstances changed after moving onto the standard deal.
Martin did not receive the same level of playing time that she had enjoyed while on the player development contract. With Los Angeles increasingly focused on developing its younger players, opportunities became harder to find for the former Hawkeye.
That eventually contributed to the Sparks deciding to move on.
During her 17 appearances for Los Angeles, Martin averaged 2.3 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. She shot 37.1 percent from the field and connected on 30.8 percent of her attempts from beyond the three-point line.
Those numbers do not tell the entire story of Martin’s basketball career, though.
At Iowa, Martin became one of the most respected players of her era. She was known for her toughness, versatility and willingness to do the little things that helped her team win. Her ability to contribute in several areas made her an important part of the Hawkeyes and eventually helped her earn an opportunity at the professional level.
Now, she faces another challenge.
The timing of her release could give Martin an opportunity to find another home before the WNBA regular season concludes. With the league preparing for its scheduled pause surrounding the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, teams will have an opportunity to evaluate their rosters and potentially make changes.
There are 14 other WNBA franchises where Martin could potentially find her next opportunity.
For a player who has already experienced being waived once this season and then fighting her way back into the league, another opportunity could be particularly important. Martin has already shown that she can respond to disappointment by continuing to work and putting herself in position to earn another chance.
Her time with the Sparks also demonstrated how quickly circumstances can change in professional basketball. Martin went from being brought into the organization on a development contract to earning a standard deal, only for her role to eventually diminish.
That unpredictability is part of life in the WNBA, where roster decisions can depend on playing time, team direction, injuries, development plans and the emergence of younger talent.
For Iowa fans, Martin’s latest setback will likely be disappointing. She remains a popular figure among Hawkeye supporters, and many will be watching closely to see where her professional career goes from here.
Being waived does not necessarily mean the end of Martin’s WNBA journey. She has already proved that after one setback, another door can open.
The former Hawkeye now has another opportunity to find that door.
With the regular season still ahead and teams preparing for the next phase of the campaign, Martin will hope that another WNBA franchise sees enough in her game to give her a chance.
For now, her immediate future is uncertain. But if her response to the Valkyries’ decision earlier this year is any indication, Martin is unlikely to simply walk away from the fight.
Her next opportunity could be just around the corner.
