Three teams. Two developmental contracts. And a whole lot of being waived. Kate Martin has endured a wild ride in the 2026 WNBA season. However, in a move that very few people saw coming, Martin has decided to take the road less traveled and head to an overseas league in search of regular playing time.

“…I want to work on getting back to loving basketball, having fun, enjoying the experience and the moment, and sharpening my skill set,” Martin said in a statement, per ESPN.

“(I want) to get five-on-five playing experience, and just where I’m at in my career right now, and the way this year in the WNBA went for me was a little up and down,” Martin added.

“I honestly didn’t play a lot of five-on-five games, so that was something I was really looking for this off-season, and so this opportunity presenting itself was just perfect.”

Martin signed with the Bendigo Spirit of Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League on Nov. 10 for the remainder of the 2026-27 season. She replaces guard Abbey Wehrung, who is expecting her first child. Martin remains quite excited for this opportunity.

“I’ve heard great things about the WNBL and the standard of basketball in Australia, so I’m looking forward to challenging myself in a new environment,” Martin said. “Bendigo has a really talented group and a strong team culture, and I’m excited to get to work, meet my teammates, and hopefully contribute to another successful season.”

Australia’s WNBL predates the WNBA by over a decade as one of the world’s oldest women’s professional basketball leagues. The October-to-March season regularly features WNBA personnel, including reigning WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase, who debuted with the Atlanta Dream in 2026.

The Golden State Valkyries selected Martin in the 2025 expansion draft following her rookie season in Las Vegas. She averaged 6.2 points and nearly three rebounds across 42 games before being waived in May 2026. She then joined the Los Angeles Sparks until an August release, finishing the year on a developmental contract in Chicago.

Martin averaged 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds across 19 total games for the LA Sparks and Chicago Sky. She joins a last-place Bendigo Spirit team (0-5), with her debut date unconfirmed ahead of Friday’s game.

Martin’s WNBL signing follows confirmation that she will not participate in Unrivaled’s 2027 season. Also, the Jan. 31 conclusion of the WNBL regular season allows this international deployment to function as a developmental bridge for Martin to pursue a training camp contract, or maybe even a regular contract for the subsequent WNBA season. Operating on a two-and-a-half-month timeline before the late-January commencement of free agency, she can generate updated evaluation metrics and video clips for WNBA scouting personnel.

While we can’t say anything on the WNBA front, Martin’s Australian team is surely looking forward to her joining them.

Bendigo Spirit Management Excited For Martin’s Arrival

Spirit general manager Dan Jackson wasted no time in sharing their excitement for Martin’s arrival.

“She’s a tough competitor, a strong defender and a very capable outside shooter, but what really stands out is her basketball IQ, leadership and willingness to do whatever the team needs,” Jackson said in a statement.

“She’s played alongside some of the biggest names in the game and has built a reputation as an outstanding teammate, which is something we really value here at Bendigo.

The franchise projects Martin’s international arrival for Friday, Nov. 13. Pending logistical and physical clearance for that day’s scheduled fixture, her official roster involvement may be deferred until the club’s subsequent game against the Townsville Fire on Saturday, Nov. 21.

The transition to the Australian league places Martin in a new international market, removing her from the WNBA’s immediate media landscape. The geographic shift provides the guard with an alternative professional environment to focus on, as she puts it, the love for the game. Her on-court development away from the intense scrutiny of the U.S. basketball ecosystem can even result in drastic improvements in her game.

A fan favorite since coming into the WNBA, the hope in the basketball community is for Martin to continue her growth and journey as a basketball player, no matter where it happens.