The Los Angeles Sparks are having one of their worst seasons in 2026. Sitting 10th in the WNBA standings with 10 losses already on the books, they have been searching for a spark in a campaign derailed by injuries and inconsistency. So rather than waiting for her Player Development eligibility to expire, the franchise has signed Kate Martin to a standard contract.

With just two eligible appearances remaining under the rules of her developmental contract, Martin became the first player in franchise history to move from the Player Development Pool to the active roster.

“Kate has made a meaningful impact on our group both on and off the court,” Sparks GM Raegan Pebley said in a statement released by the team on July 6. “She brings versatility on both ends of the floor, competes at a high level, and consistently puts the team first. We’re excited to see her continue to grow.”

However, to open up a spot on their roster for Kate Martin, the Sparks waived rookie Ta’Niya Latson, the No. 20 overall pick in the Draft.

Due to her struggles to adjust to playing point guard instead of her natural shooting guard position, she appeared in only 10 games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.0 rebound in just 5:00 per game. However, it might not be the end of her time in Los Angeles just yet.

According to Justin Russo of Russo Writes, with Kate Martin now occupying a standard roster spot and Alissa Pili filling one of the two Player Development positions, the Sparks are expected to re-sign Latson to the remaining development slot if she clears waivers and goes unclaimed.

With players like Nneka Ogwumike, Kelsey Plum, and Cameron Brink on their roster, the Sparks entered this season looking like potential title contenders. And in early June, they did stand on business with three straight wins. However, injuries sidelined both star forward/center Brink and guard Plum, and Martin stepped up.

The former Iowa standout is currently averaging 2.6 points per game while shooting a career-best 43.5% from the field. Her best outing came against the Toronto Tempo in May when she scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 18 minutes.

After being released by the Golden State Valkyries before the season, she has turned a temporary chance into a permanent roster spot. As the Sparks take on the Seattle Storm, Martin will get her chance to help the Sparks break their two-game losing streak.