Kate Martin is one of 11 WNBA players who have been selected to represent the Golden State Valkyries from next season, and Caitlin Clark is already rooting for her.

Like Clark, Martin was a rookie last season after ending her stint with Iowa to declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Martin was selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the second round, but will now become one of the stars in a brand-new team along with some familiar faces.

“Let’s go Kater!!!!!” Clark wrote on Instagram after Martin was selected by the Valkyries during the WNBA expansion draft. The newest WNBA franchise hosted its expansion draft on Friday night, where it got to pick a player from each of the 12 current WNBA franchises.

Each team was allowed to protect six players on their roster, allowing Golden State the opportunity to select one unprotected player from each franchise. While Martin was only just settling into life as a member of the Aces, she’s excited about a new opportunity.

“I’m really excited,” Martin told ESPN. “This league is all about opportunity, and you just need one shot, right? I’m very thankful for the Aces and everything I got to learn there, but I’m really excited for this new beginning and to build something from the ground up.”

Martin was one of four guards selected, as the Valkyries also acquired Julie Vanloo, Carla Leite, Veronica Burton. Golden State also selected two centers in Temi Fagbenle and Iliana Rupert, while adding forwards Kayla Thornton, Cecilia Zandalasini, Monique Billings, Stephanie Talbot, and Maria Conde.

The Valkyries opted not to select any of the unprotected players from the Seattle Storm, instead settling for 11 players from a possible 12. Golden State does hold the fifth-overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Caitlin Clark was delighted for Kate Martin following the expansion draft.

Caitlin Clark was delighted for Kate Martin following the expansion draft. ( 

Image:

@CaitlinClark22 / Instagram)

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson wished Kate Martin well.

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson wished Kate Martin well. ( 

Image:

@Aja22Wilson / Instagram)

Aces star A’ja Wilson was sad to see Martin leave Las Vegas, but wished her former teammate well in an Instagram story. “My baby, soooo happy for you, you are a gem,” Wilson wrote. “Now we gotta give you and Nat 50,” she added.

The ‘Nat’ that Wilson was referring to was former Aces assistant coach Natalie Nakase, who accepted the role as Valkyries head coach for next season. Martin will reunite with Nakase in Golden State, and sent a message to her new teammates about what to expect.

“Coach Nakase is somebody you’re going to want to run through a brick wall for,” Martin told ESPN. “She’s a truthteller, she’s going to be honest with you, but she matches that with love and support 100 percent, so those are the kind of coaches that you just want to give your all for. Super grateful that we got to build a relationship in Las Vegas, and we get to continue that.”