The Golden State Valkyries’ decision to waive guard Kate Martin during their final roster cuts ahead of the current regular season came as a major surprise for most fans. Martin had become one of the franchise’s most popular players, with one of the league’s best-selling jerseys to show for it. And as WNBA insider Nathan Canilao put it, she was actually a “beloved person in the locker room.”

Speaking on Friday’s episode of the WNBA Today on CLNS podcast, Canilao has now shed new light on the circumstances behind the move. According to him, an unexpected roster challenge ultimately “made Kate the odd woman out,” despite her strong standing within the organization.

Canilao, in fact, also initially expected Kate Martin to eventually make the team. But according to him, after Iliana Rupert announced that she was pregnant and would miss the season, the Valkyries had to decide how they were going to construct the roster. As Canilao explained, “Kate was already slated to be like maybe a fourth or fifth guard on the team.” He added that he was actually expecting the final cut to come down to Martin and fellow guard Kaitlyn Chen.

However, from the perspective with which the Valkyries made their choice, Kate Martin simply no longer fit their most pressing roster needs. “We needed a backup point guard, so we can’t cut Kaitlyn and we need a backup center, so we can’t cut Laeticia (Amihere). And that kind of made Kate the odd woman out,” said Canilao.

With Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton, and Janelle Salaün already on the roster, the Valkyries needed a guard who could complement their strengths. Chen’s ability to space the floor and create opportunities within the flow of the game gave Golden State another offensive weapon and a natural fit alongside its core pieces.

But perhaps Kate Martin’s injury at that time also contributed to her eventual waiver. This is because it limited her preseason to just one game, where she delivered eight points, seven rebounds, and two assists. 

Coach Natalie Nakase and the Valkyries organization faced plenty of criticism for their decision to part ways with Kate Martin, but Chen wasted little time showing why Golden State believed in her. In the season opener against the Seattle Storm, she scored 14 points in just 16 minutes, immediately making an impact. Since then, Chen has averaged 5.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while helping the Valkyries to an 8-5 start to the season.

Kate Martin may have been brought to tears after learning that she had been waived by the Valkyries, but she appears to be settling in well with the Los Angeles Sparks after signing a developmental contract. More importantly, her recent outing against the Portland Fire could be an encouraging sign for her future.

Despite the Sparks being fully healthy, Martin still earned eight minutes off the bench, a notable sign of confidence from the coaching staff. Kelsey Plum reinforced that belief after the game, saying she was “looking forward to playing with Kate Martin a lot more this year.” While not a guarantee, comments like that suggest Martin is firmly in the Sparks’ plans and could strengthen the case for a contract conversion in the near future.

Valkyries Insider Reveals Why Kate Martin’s Exit Hurt the Valkyries Locker Room

Still speaking on Friday’s episode of the WNBA Today on CLNS podcast, WNBA insider Nathan Canilao revealed how important Kate Martin was in the Valkyries locker room, which was actually the most interesting part of her waiver for him. “I think the interesting part about Kate is just, she was a beloved person in the locker room,” Canilao said.

According to Canilao, it was quite difficult for Martin’s fellow teammates and even the coaching staff to come to terms with her departure. “I know how hard it was for everybody in that locker room, all the players, even the coaching staff, for them to let go of Kate,” he said. As he explained, Martin was much more than just a player on the roster. “She was a vibes player, she just really kept the locker room in it, a lot of times during losing streaks last season.”

Canilao also revealed that Kate Martin was someone who had formed strong relationships throughout the organization. “Was always someone that I think the team bonded with. Everybody on the team was kind of cool with Kate,” he said. And that only made her departure hurt even more for those who had spent time alongside her.

Even Kate Martin herself felt the emotional weight of having to leave the Valkyries. As Canilao pointed out, when she was later asked about her waiver, she struggled to hold back her emotions while discussing it. “Someone asked her about her time (with the Valkyries), she’s like literally in tears,” he said.

Hopefully, Kate Martin would one day get the opportunity to return to the Valkyries family. But if that happens, she’ll have to show an ability and performance that warrants it. Because at the end of the day, these decisions are not usually emotional decisions.