Kate Martin, the WNBA’s rising star and rookie sensation, is bidding an emotional adieu to the glitz of Las Vegas as she heads to her new home in San Francisco. The Golden State Valkyries snatched her up as the No. 6 pick in Friday’s expansion draft, shocking some fans but delighting others who are eager to see her strut her stuff at the Chase Center.
In true Kate Martin style, she didn’t leave Sin City quietly. Instead, she dropped a heartfelt video montage chronicling her final day—a perfectly brewed mix of love, laughter, and coffee art. Yes, coffee art. The woman can ball and make lattes with flair. What can’t she do?
Love, Lattes, and Locker Rooms
The video begins with Martin giving a huge shoutout to her girlfriend, Claire Gransee, calling her “awesome” and “the best.” In a world where professional athletes tend to stick to canned PR lines, Martin’s authenticity is refreshing.
Their day kicked off with breakfast at one of Martin’s favorite spots, where she casually flexed her barista skills, creating coffee art so good it probably deserves its own Instagram page. Next stop? The Las Vegas Aces facility. Spoiler alert: it was eerily empty, which felt like a metaphor for Martin’s departure. She packed up her locker with the help of Claire, who wins the unofficial award for “Best Supportive Girlfriend in a Video Montage.”
Dinner, Drama, and ‘Mad Apple’
The farewell tour didn’t end there. Martin and Claire grabbed dinner and then hit “Mad Apple,” a Vegas show that blends acrobatics with comedy. It’s unclear if they were laughing at the jokes or the sheer absurdity of Martin leaving a team she was just starting to vibe with.
The video also featured surprise cameos by Aces veterans Kiah Stokes and Allisha Gray, the only teammates who tagged along for this bittersweet ride. Apparently, not everyone in Vegas is too cool for goodbyes.
Rollercoasters and a New Chapter
What better way to end your last night in Vegas than on a rollercoaster? After screaming their lungs out, the couple headed home for one final snooze before embarking on their new adventure.
Fans, as always, had plenty to say about Martin’s transition. One fan, clearly in denial, tweeted, “I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying!” Another was already dreaming up crossovers between Martin and Steph Curry, predicting, “She’ll train with @StephenCurry30 and come back a beast!”
But not everyone was convinced. One concerned fan questioned, “How will she even afford to live in San Francisco?” A valid point, given the cost of living in the Bay Area could make anyone nostalgic for Vegas’s all-you-can-eat buffets.
What’s Next for Kate Martin?
Martin’s rookie season with the Aces showcased her talent and charisma, making her one of the league’s most beloved players. Now, she’s off to the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest team.
Fans are excited to see her rocking the Valkyries uniform, but the transition feels like a classic case of “right player, wrong team”—at least until she starts dropping dimes and hitting buzzer-beaters in the Bay Area.
As Martin trades the neon lights of Vegas for the Golden Gate’s glow, one thing’s clear: her journey is just beginning. And if her farewell video is anything to go by, she’ll tackle it all with love, humor, and maybe a side of coffee art.
Stay tuned, because Kate Martin isn’t just starting a new chapter—she’s writing a bestseller.
