SHE NEVER FORGOT HER FORMER TEAM! Kate Martin Sends Emotional Support to Golden State Valkyries After Historic WNBA Championship Victory.
Kate Martin has shown that changing teams does not mean forgetting the people who shared an important chapter of her basketball journey. After the Golden State Valkyries captured their first WNBA championship, the former Valkyries guard joined the celebrations in her own way, turning attention toward one of the players she once called a teammate: Veronica Burton.
Golden State made history on Saturday night, October 31, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68–63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center. The victory delivered the first championship in franchise history, and it came in only the team’s second season. For an organization that had already built a passionate following, the achievement was a remarkable milestone.
The Valkyries had to work for it. Atlanta led 30–24 at halftime, putting the home side under pressure in front of a packed crowd. Golden State responded after the break, with Gabby Williams taking control of the contest. She scored 30 points, including 28 in the second half, and produced several decisive moments as the Valkyries turned the game around.
Williams’ performance earned her the Finals Most Valuable Player award. Her scoring was central to the comeback, but the championship was also shaped by contributions across the roster. Kiah Stokes supplied 13 rebounds and two blocks, while Veronica Burton helped close out the game at the free-throw line. With only seconds remaining, Burton converted two free throws to secure the 68–63 result.
As the team celebrated, Martin made sure a familiar face received some recognition. According to reports about her social-media activity, she shared two Instagram Stories focused on Burton. One was a congratulatory post from WSLAM celebrating Burton as a WNBA champion. The other was a clip of Burton reflecting on the journey that brought her to the top of the sport.
In that clip, Burton spoke about her path from training at a YMCA to becoming a champion. Her message was about refusing to let other people decide how far a person can go. She encouraged people to keep working, stay focused and believe that persistence can open doors that once seemed out of reach.
Martin’s decision to highlight Burton was a warm gesture, especially given their shared time in Golden State. Professional basketball is a business, and rosters change quickly, but the friendships and memories formed inside a locker room do not necessarily disappear when a contract or team assignment ends.
It is worth being precise about what Martin did and did not say. The reports describe her sharing posts and a video celebrating Burton. They do not provide a direct written statement from Martin declaring her feelings about the Valkyries’ championship, nor do they quote her delivering a long emotional message to the entire organization. The clearest evidence of her reaction is the public support she showed for her former teammate.
That distinction does not make the gesture meaningless. In a moment when attention naturally turned to the champions, Martin chose to amplify Burton’s achievement and the message behind her journey. It was a simple way to show that she was watching, that she appreciated what her former teammate had accomplished and that she was happy to see someone from her previous basketball circle reach the highest level.
For the Valkyries, the title represents much more than one successful night. They defeated the Dallas Wings in the first round, swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals and then survived a seven-game battle with Atlanta. Their run was built on defensive intensity, resilience and timely performances from players who delivered when the pressure was greatest.
The story, then, is not that Martin issued a dramatic public statement or claimed a share of the championship. It is that she acknowledged a former teammate’s achievement at a historic moment. Sometimes support is expressed without a lengthy speech. A repost, a congratulatory message and the decision to shine a light on someone else’s success can say enough.
Golden State will remember October 31 as the night it became champion. Burton will remember helping deliver the decisive free throws. And Martin’s small but thoughtful social-media reaction has given fans another reminder that the bonds formed through basketball can last beyond the final buzzer.
