Kate Martin'sprofessional basketball journey continues in the Windy City.
On Wednesday, the Chicago Sky announced they signed Edwardsville, Illinois, native to a developmental contract. The news comes less than a week after the Los Angeles Sparks waived the 6-foot guard on Aug. 29.
Martin, drafted with the 18th overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2024 WNBA Draft, was one of four second-round selections to make a WNBA roster that same year. The ouster from the Sparks marked her second time being cut this season.
The 26-year-old was waived by the Golden State Valkyries on May 7, after spending the 2025 campaign with the team, averaging 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game. She was originally picked up in the 2024 expansion draft
by the franchise. On May 10, the Sparks signed Martin to a developmental roster spot. Developmental players are eligible to play in 12 regular-season games before they must be converted to a standard contract.
"My role right now is to be the best developmental player I can possibly be. Get in extra workouts. Be a great teammate. Do whatever the team needs me to do. Be a great hype woman on the bench," Martin said in May.
"We're still learning kind of what the development role kind of entails, but as of now, it's to be where my feet are, buy in to being an L.A. Spark, and give it all I got."
On July 6, the Sparks made Martin the first player in franchise history to be upgraded from the development pool to a standard WNBA contract, with now-fired general manager Raegan Pebley lauding Martin's "versatility on both ends of the floor." However, that same month, Martin's usage decreased significantly.
Even after Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said in August that the team's ownership had "asked that bench players receive playing time rest of the season" with the Sparks having clinched a losing record and missing the playoffs, Martin's play was limited. Roberts attributed the situation to the front office already having data on Martin while other players needed the time to prove themselves. The guard finished her time in Los Angeles playing 17 games with the Sparks, averaging 2.3 points per game.
Before her WNBA career, Martin played seasons at Iowa, where she averaged 8.0 points on 46.4% from the field, 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists. She appeared in 163 career games for Iowa and ranks fifth in Hawkeyes history in assists (473).
Martin is expected to be available for Chicago when the WNBA returns from the FIBA World Cup break on Sept. 17. If Martin plays, her Sky debut would be against the Washington Mystics (8 p.m. ET, League Pass).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kate Martin signs developmental contract with Sky days after Sparks exit
