Valkyries Kate Martin Scores Career-High 21 in Narrow Liberty Loss

Kate Martin delivered a career-high 21-point performance off the bench for the Golden State Valkyries in their narrow 81-78 loss to the New York Liberty, showcasing her ability as a clutch shooter with four critical three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Despite shooting struggles earlier in the season and recent games, Martin's confidence and competitive fire emerged strongly against the defending champions, nearly leading her team to an upset. Coach Natalie Nakase credited Martin's offseason dedication to improving her skills as key to her breakout impact, while Martin emphasized the team's focus on winning rather than settling for close losses. The Liberty, led by Sabrina Ionescu, managed to hold off the Valkyries despite Martin's late surge, with Ionescu acknowledging Martin's clutch shooting postgame. Both Martin and Nakase highlighted the team's resilience and commitment to competing with top WNBA teams, despite falling short in tight contests. Martin's performance underlines her growing role with the expansion Valkyries and potential as a dynamic scorer in the league.