Sparks Waive Guard Kate Martin

The Los Angeles Sparks announced on a Saturday in late August that they had waived guard Kate Martin, creating a roster spot for guard-forward Aaliyah Nye, who was claimed off waivers after being released by the Atlanta Dream. The move came with less than a month remaining in the regular season, and the Sparks, now 14-25, have already been eliminated from postseason contention.

Newsweek

Martin entered the league as the 18th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. After being selected by the Las Vegas Aces, she was taken by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft and spent the 2025 campaign averaging 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game, according to WNBA statistics. She signed a developmental contract with the Sparks, was upgraded to a standard contract on July 6—making her the first player in franchise history to do so—and recorded a season-high 11 points on May 17 in a loss to the Toronto Tempo. Over 17 games with Los Angeles, Sparks records show she averaged 2.3 points per game.

USA Today

Alongside waiving Martin, the Sparks claimed Aaliyah Nye, signed forward Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda to a developmental deal, and waived forward Alissa Pili, who had appeared in five games averaging 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds. Coach Lynne Roberts later indicated that ownership had asked bench players to receive playing time for the remainder of the season, a directive that limited Martin’s minutes despite the team’s losing record.

USA Today

Fans on X expressed disappointment, accusing the organization of lacking clear direction and questioning the value of staying engaged with the Sparks. Despite the waiver, Martin secured a multi-year contract to return to the Unrivaled Basketball league for 3-on-3 competition this offseason, giving her a pathway to continue playing professionally while awaiting another WNBA opportunity.

Newsweek