Two players. Two generational talents. Two rivals whose names define UConn and Iowa basketball—Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. Today, they also define Dallas and Indiana in the WNBA. But what about the ones who stood beside them on draft night? The Golden State Valkyries house two such figures, Kate Martin and Kaitlyn Chen, whose eerily similar paths have caught the eye of a certain national analyst. And what she noticed might just signal something bigger brewing in San Francisco.

Yes, we’re talking about Martin and Chen—two overlooked prospects who came to the draft simply to support their superstar teammates and ended up drafted themselves. On her podcast The Courtside Club, DeMita connected the dots between their journeys, saying, “Kate Martin was also somebody who we didn’t know if she was going to be drafted. She was at the draft to support Caitlin Clark, so you’re kind of seeing a pattern here with the players who are on the Valkyries.”

Martin herself acknowledged the unexpected nature of her selection during a 2024 ESPN interview: “I’m really happy to be here. I was here to support Caitlin Clark.”

And then DeMita pointed out another coincidence, one in terms of jersey sales , “I saw a video that Mick Talks Hoops made where he talked about Kaitlyn Chen’s jersey already being one of the highest selling jerseys.” She drove her point home by referencing the WNBA store, where both Martin and Chen’s jerseys were featured among the top sellers, alongside Clark, Bueckers, Reese, Wilson, and Van Lith.

Even last year, Martin was among the top 5. In fact, she had out-sold her teammate and MVP, A’ja Wilson, for the 4th spot. Now Chen is placed 6th, without even a final regular season roster announced.

And as it turns out, the rookie shared the same fate—and humility—after being picked 30th overall: “I was really just here to watch Paige get drafted, and I’m so happy for her, but it’s been an unreal night,” she told reporters on the draft night. And let you tell you, the Golden State is welcoming the two with all its heart.

17,428 fans filled up the Chase Center for the Valkyries vs the LA Sparks showdown. That was the biggest crowd for a preseason game. A few fans are convinced it is the two newbies attracting that crowd. Well, rightfully so. Because the two times the arena went wild, it was when Martin and Chen were hitting the court for the first time. 

Two backup stories. Two surprise picks. Two fan-favorite jerseys. One team: the Valkyries. Something special is clearly brewing—and DeMita might be the first to see it coming.

Golden State Valkyries: Building a Team, Drafting a Vibe

In fact one could say , that the Golden State Valkyries aren’t just building a team—they’re drafting a vibe. With rookies like Kaitlyn Chen and Justė Jocytė, this isn’t your average expansion-year survival story. It’s more like an origin myth in the making—equal parts savvy and swagger, with coach Natalie Nakase at the helm scripting something fresh and fearless.

Their strategy? Think of it as “Chaos with a Compass.” They’ve brought together a global cast of competitors—10 international players and a mix of rookies and seasoned vets—not to mimic other teams, but to unearth chemistry in unexpected places. Chen, coming off a national championship with UConn, embodies this blueprint: unheralded, unshaken, and suddenly unstoppable. She wasn’t even supposed to be drafted. Now she’s suiting up under Nakase—the WNBA’s first Asian American head coach.

Rather than forcing a face-of-the-franchise narrative, GM Ohemaa Nyanin is letting the team’s identity emerge organically. In fact, Nyanin stated after draft night, “It remains to be seen after this first season if what we did in the expansion draft, free agency and collegiate draft is the runway for other expansion teams.” The message? No assumptions. Earn your jersey. Find your fit. Play your role—or reinvent it.

The Valkyries know they might not win 20 games this year—but they’re betting on something deeper: laying the cultural foundation, discovering who thrives under bright lights, and becoming the team free agents and fans want to join next year. And well, that vision may have started taking shape as early as their inaugural game—a thrilling 83-82 win against the Sparks.

 After the game, Rachael DeMita even  said, “I could see the Golden State Valkyries being a free agency destination for a lot of these players because who doesn’t want to play in front of a sold-out arena, in front of a crowd and fan base who is going to ride this hard for this team?”

It’s not tanking. It’s trial by fire—with a spark of joy and a side of defiance. And if you’re underestimating them? That’s exactly what they’re counting on.