The Sparks made a bit of a splash prior to their season-opener on Sunday by signing Kate Martin to a developmental contract.
Martin is entering her third year in the NBA, having spent a season with the Aces and Valkyries. She was waived late in the preseason by Golden State.
“Kate is a gifted shooter, whose grittiness and winning history mesh well with Sparks basketball,” Sparks General Manager
Raegan Pebley said in the team’s press release on the move. “She’s confident in her shot, plays tenacious defense and is an unselfish, high-energy teammate. We’re eager to watch Kate develop within our system.”
Across those two seasons, Martin has averaged 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 76 games. Last season, she took on a bigger role with Golden State than in her rookie season, playing in 42 games and averaging 6.2 points.
Martin also played in Unrivaled last season, playing alongside Cameron Brink on the Breeze. Martin averaged six points in 13 games.
She’s one of the league’s more popular players despite her modest stats, dating back to her time playing alongside Caitlin Clark at Iowa. That popularity has made her a fan favorite in both Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Developmental contracts are new to the WNBA this season and are similar to the NBA’s two-way contracts. Teams have two roster spots for developmental deals. Players under those contracts can practice and travel with the team, but can only be active for up to 12 games.
The Sparks start their season on Sunday afternoon against the Aces. Given the tight turnaround, not having been integrated with the team and being on a developmental deal, it’s unlikely Martin will be factored into the game.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
