Kate Martin's career night didn't top Liberty, but it's still a win for Valkyries

Yahoo

2 days ago

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin, cutting toward the left sideline, stepped perfectly into the catch-and-shoot 3-pointer.
However, New York Liberty guard Marine Johannès understood the assignment. Martin was hot Wednesday night, Golden State was down four, and only a handful of seconds remained, so Johannès smothered the look.
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Martin pumpfaked, took one dribble to the right and launched a fadeaway shot. It didn't matter that Johannès was still there, hands up in Martin's face. What mattered to the Golden State guard was that her team needed a bucket, and she was the one to get it.
And when she drilled it, cutting New York's lead to a point with 11.4 seconds remaining, Martin did more than keep alive the Valkyries' pursuit of victory, more than provoke a higher octave from Chase Center's roar. She authored a moment. Her moment. One that could reverberate into the remaining season.
'It just feels good to knock down shots,' Martin said.
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She was 0 of 8 from the field in her last outing, on Sunday against Connecticut, which thwarted the momentum she gained in last week's 4-of-7 showing against Indiana. She missed her first four 3s against the Liberty.
However, she found her stroke in the fourth quarter. She worked herself into a rhythm. Her will carried her through.
Buried inside Martin, beneath the smile and the unassuming visage, behind the eyes that can look a bit overwhelmed at times, is a fire-breathing competitor. A confident, dynamic player who loves the moment.
The trick has been getting that out of Martin. Coaxing her edge consistently to the surface. Because when it's out, when her fire governs her game, she can be a problem for the opponent.
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And, for whatever reason, the chance to upset the defending champion Liberty? Bay Area hero Sabrina Ionescu in town? The best version of Martin was unleashed in Ballhalla on Wednesday night. New York was almost burned.
The Liberty (11-3) escaped Chase Center with an 81-78 win over the Valkyries. However, Martin ensured the East's best team had to dig deep to secure it with an explosive fourth quarter. She set five career-highs: shots made (7) and attempted (15), 3-pointers made (4) and attempted (10), all for a personal-best 21 points — her first 20-point night in 47 games as a pro.
A refreshing level of assertiveness from coach Natalie Nakase's perspective.
'Of course,' she said, 'we want her to stay aggressive.'
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The Valkyries (7-7), still in sixth place in the league despite the loss, got their latest glimmer of hope from Martin. Their original pick in the expansion draft, expected to bring some juice to a franchise without an A-1 star, Martin felt the rigors of an expansion team. Golden State's developing roster and fluctuating rotations make it hard for a reserve to establish a rhythm. Martin, in her second season out of Iowa, has gotten lost at times amid Nakase's searching.
In Martin's 13 games this season, she has played under 15 minutes in five and over 20 minutes in just four. She's taken three shots or fewer six times, while Wednesday was her second game with at least 10 attempts.
If Wednesday's career performance was a launching point for Martin, if she's found enough liberty to play with the aggressiveness they want, then Wednesday night's loss bodes as well as a win.
The scrappiness shaping the Valkyries' inaugural season, which has the expansion club thinking about the playoffs, embodies Martin's performance.
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She played through rough patches and wasn't thwarted by missed looks. And she took advantage of isolation opportunities. She was 3 of 5 in the paint, driving at the Liberty defense. Her runner over Ionescu with the foul put Golden State up 55-50 with under six minutes left in the third quarter.
The Valkyries were down four midway through the fourth when Martin got a wide-open look from the right corner off an offensive rebound by Veronica Burton. However, Martin, who'd already missed three attempts in the quarter, including two air balls, whiffed again.
Two possessions later, a drive by Kayla Thornton got Martin another open look from the same corner. She didn't shy away and didn't pump-fake and drive. The created shots must be taken. This time, Martin buried it.
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The next time down, Burton swung the extra pass to Martin on the left wing for another open look. She knocked it down, trying the game at 72 with just over 4:30 left.
The Valkyries had survived a first-half barrage from Breanna Stewart, who scored 21 of her 23 before halftime, and were blindsided by 20 from New York's Kennedy Burke off the bench, negating Golden State's stifling of Ionescu into a 1-of-11 shooting performance. Somehow, as usual, the women in black and violet found a way to stay within reach of victory.
Down two, two minutes later, Stephanie Talbot's drive-and-kick got Martin an open look from the left corner. With the defender closing fast, Martin quickened her release and swished another one. Golden State led 75-74 with 1:59 remaining.
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'She's a great shooter, and she's got a lot of confidence when the ball comes to her,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. 'She made some shots where we overhelped, and just left her open, and that wasn't the plan. … But Kate made those shots, and she's always stayed ready. I like her mentality. She really was a thorn in our side.'
Her clutch fadeaway 3-pointer with 11.4 seconds left put the Valkyries in position to extend the game. After Ionescu made two free throws, the hosts trailed by three. Thornton got a good look but missed it, yet Golden State maintained possession.
With six seconds remaining, the Valks had one last chance. Everyone in the sold-out arena knew Martin was the one to get the shot. That included New York, which subbed in stellar defender Natasha Cloud. Martin got the ball at the top and, after a few dribble moves, couldn't shake Cloud. She hoisted a desperation 3 that fell harmlessly shy of the rim. The Valkyries' upset bid died with it.
However, what mattered most to the Golden State guard was that her team needed a bucket, and she was the one to get it. And the Kate Martin, they love to see, went for it.
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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
New York Liberty, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA
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