Golden State Valkyries star Kate Martin is enjoying her few days of break from on-court games, and she did not let the opportunity of greeting one of her teammates on their birthday pass.
In a story on Instagram, Valkyries star Kate Martin gave one of her teammates a heartfelt shoutout. Their center, Temi Fagbenle, recently celebrated her 33rd birthday, and the team posted a greeting post for her, which Martin reposted on her story.
“Everyone, wish this queen a happy birthday,” Martin wrote in her story’s caption.
Kate Martin joined the Golden State Valkyries via the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft after originally signing a rookie contract with the Las Vegas Aces. Selected 18th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Martin’s four-year, $297,045 deal was inherited by the Valkyries when they built their inaugural roster. Her contract runs through the 2027 season, with progressive salary increases and a team option in the final year.
Temi Fagbenle was also acquired by the Valkyries during the 2024 Expansion Draft, following her stint with the Indiana Fever. Although initially uncertain due to her commitments with the British National Team and a film role, Fagbenle officially signed with Golden State in April 2025, securing a one-year deal reportedly worth $90,000.
Fagbenle entered free agency as a restricted free agent, but ultimately chose to commit to the Valkyries for the 2025 season.
Kate Martin Silence on Social Media Sparks Romance Questions
Kate Martin’s silence on her longtime girlfriend’s recent Instagram posts has sparked a fresh round of speculation about the status of their relationship, according to an observation by BroBible.
Fans noted that Martin, who previously lavished affectionate comments on Claire Gransee’s travel photos, did not react to Gransee’s August 31 sunset shot or her September 1 carousel, fueling rumors of a split and potential new romance within Martin’s own team.
Martin and Gransee first met while both were at the University of Iowa, where Martin was a key player with Caitlin Clark on the Hawkeyes’ basketball team. Following Gransee graduating in 2024, the couple officially announced their relationship, and began a long-distance relationship, complete with Martin’s adorable captions on Instagram.
So far this season, Kate Martin averages 6.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. She shoots 33.6% from the field, and 32.5% from beyond the arc. She has played in 38 games so far and started in four of them.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
