"Aces not protecting Kate is surprising" - WNBA fans abuzz as Golden State Valkyries pick Caitlin Clark’s Iowa teammate Kate Martin

The Golden State Valkyries are reportedly picking their first players in the WNBA expansion draft. The league's 13th franchise unveiled its logo, uniforms, and even its first-ever head coach, but now it's time to determine which players will represent the Golden State Warriors's sister franchise.

Hours before the start of the event, it was reported that Caitlin Clark's former Iowa Hawkeyes teammate and Las Vegas Aces rookie, Kate Martin, would be selected by the San Francisco franchise. Kayla Thornton is another name the Valkyries would choose to start filling the roster.

As always, many fans responded to the news, expressing their surprise that the Aces did not protect Martin, who seemed like a strong candidate to guide the team in the future.

"The Aces not protecting Kate is surprising," one fan said.

"not kate money martin 😭😭💔," another fan said.

"Zero chance Martin isn’t protected," one skeptical fan said.

Others were surprised, too, but took a different approach and criticized the team over this decision.

"Aces must’ve protected kiah stokes LMAO In what world do you not protect kate Martin? Lmaoo They must’ve been mad about them jersey sales," one fan wrote.

"We protected Kiah over Kate!?!?!? Aces really piss me off sometimes man nobody was taking none of our old a** players 😭," another fan said.

The Las Vegas Aces' 2024 WNBA season ended disappointingly. They were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs following a 62-76 home defeat to the New York Liberty. The Aces aim to recover in the upcoming season, but Becky Hammon cautioned that significant changes are ahead.

The Golden State Valkyries have an opportunity to set the right course with strong picks tonight.

Golden State Valkyries HC praises Kate Martin's former teammate

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase knows the league is in great hands. In October, she praised Kate Martin's former college teammate and close friend, Caitlin Clark, as part of the group that might change women's basketball forever.

"It's been amazing," Nakase said. "Like anytime player like Caitlin [Clark] and Angel Reese and definitely Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, I can down the line that some of these players have done really really well in their first year...that's only a positive."

The Golden State Valkyries plan to emulate or surpass what the Warriors have done in the NBA in the last 10 years, but that won't come that easily.