Kate Martin, who was earlier cut by the Golden State Valkyries, secured a development slot with the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday. She was drafted 18th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces but has failed to find a home. With the league accepting the new CBA terms, let’s see how much Martin will make in her development contract with the Sparks.
How much salary will Kate Martin draw for her new contract with Sparks?
Kate Martin’s contract allows her to practice and travel with the team, earning a weekly stipend of $750. Moreover, she will also receive the minimum salary of $6000 per game. Besides her, Laura Ziegler is the other development player for the Sparks. Every WNBA team is allowed to sign two development players, who can’t have more than three years of service in their deal.
The development contract can be converted to a standard team contract at any point, giving the two players motivation to make the most out of every opportunity awarded to them. Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley shared the Sparks’ official statement on acquiring Martin, which read:
“Kate is a gifted shooter, whose grittiness and winning history mesh well with Sparks basketball. She’s confident in her shot, plays tenacious defense and is an unselfish, high-energy teammate. We’re eager to watch Kate develop within our system.”
Martin averaged 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes last season with the Valkyries. She is a connector-style, high-intensity guard who can play multiple roles. She made her debut with the Sparks in their 99-95 win against the Toronto Tempo. She came off the bench for six minutes, attempted two shots, one from deep, but couldn’t make any.
Even though Martin has yet to score her first points with the Sparks, she was emotional when the news of her new contract with the franchise came out.
Kate Martin overcome with emotions after securing new contract
Kate Martin was cut by the Valkyries, and her future went into an uncertain territory just after the league entered its next phase with the new CBA deal. Naturally, she got emotional when the Sparks trusted her and offered a development contract. In her address to the media, she said:
“I just had to do what was best for me and my career, and I just felt this was the best decision for me, and I’m very, very excited to be here 1,000%. I’m definitely gonna give it my all, but that process wasn’t easy.”
Kate Martin has a quota of opportunities with the Los Angeles Sparks, and she will have to make the most out of every one of them. The Iowa alumna will have to do some extra work, as the team is not short on talent in the backcourt.
Kelsey Plum, Rae Burrell, and Erica Wheeler dominate the current starting lineup, while the bench includes Ta’Niya Latson, Chance Gray, and Kate Martin. Ariel Atkins, another elite two-way guard, is currently on concussion protocol after taking a blow to her head in a game against the Indiana Fever.
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