San Francisco, CA- The Golden State Valkyries fell 86–75 to the undefeated Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night at the Chase Center, but not without making a statement — and showcasing a breakout performance from crowd favorite, Kate “Money” Martin.
Martin scored a career-high 14 points in a red-hot second quarter that helped the Valkyries take a slim halftime lead. Her energy and confident shooting gave Golden State a spark, earning loud cheers from the home crowd and highlighting her growing role in the lineup.
Despite the strong start, the Lynx pulled away in the second half behind Napheesa Collier’s 24 points and 11 rebounds. Courtney Williams added 20, leading Minnesota to its seventh straight win.
Head coach Natalie Nakase has emphasized development and culture in the franchise’s inaugural season, and that focus was evident. Golden State moved the ball well, played aggressive defense, and continued to build chemistry on both ends of the floor. “They stayed in the fight and that’s what I love about this team,” Nakase said.
Martin, nicknamed “Money” by her teammates, her fans called “Martinis”, has quickly become a fan favorite, — and Sunday’s performance proved she’s more than just a spark plug. “It’s honestly incredible, when you have a fan base that just sticks with you through highs and lows of the games and cheers you on. It does bring us energy…to have such supportive fans, it really does help,” Martin says.
The Valkyries dropped to 2–4 but showed they can compete with top-tier teams. They’ll aim to carry that momentum into a nationally televised game on June 7 against the defending champion, the Las Vegas Aces.
As the season continues, the Valkyrie’s foundation — built on effort, growth, and emerging talent like Martin — is clearly taking shape.
