Kate Martin inked a developmental contract with the Chicago Sky this week, a move that signals either a major lifeline or the final buzzer for a player whose WNBA career is truly on the ropes.
The Sky’s Bottomless Pit, Or When Does Endless End?
Let’s be real, the Chicago Sky are stuck. They’re locked into missing the WNBA playoffs for the third straight season, and they’ll finish under .500 for the fourth year running. This isn’t just a tough stretch; this is an endless rebuild that feels like it’s dragging on forever. When a franchise is mired this deep, they’ve absolutely got to cast a wide net for talent, right? They’re looking everywhere, even eyeing explosive undrafted rookies like Sydney Taylor out of Louisville, trying to find that missing spark. Their offense? Man, it’s lagging big time, ranking dead last at 12th in offensive efficiency across the league. You simply cannot win consistently when your scoring is that anemic.
Martin’s Rocky Road and a Shot at Redemption
For Martin, this is it. We’re talking absolute “last shot” territory here. It’s a make-or-break moment. Remember, she was Caitlin Clark’s college teammate, and she was drafted 18th overall by the Las Vegas Aces back in 2024. But since then, her professional journey has been a whirlwind, playing for three different WNBA teams in as many seasons. Most recently, the Los Angeles Sparks waived her after just 17 games in the 2026 season. Ouch, that’s a tough blow to take. Now, she’s got a fresh, albeit incredibly tough, start.
Signing her to a developmental contract is a smart play for the Sky, honestly. These deals are specifically for players with three years of experience or less, and here’s the absolute kicker: they don’t count against the salary cap. Teams can actually carry up to two players on these developmental contracts outside their standard 12-player roster, giving them flexibility. It lets the Sky take a low-risk flyer, a cheap way to kick the tires and see what they’ve got. But for Martin, that means she’s got a maximum of 12 games to prove her worth before the Sky has to make a definitive decision about converting her contract into a standard deal.
The FIBA World Cup break wraps up on September 17, and after that, the Sky only have four games left this season. That means Martin won’t even get close to hitting that 12-game maximum before the regular season is over. This is an incredibly compressed tryout, a sprint to show everything she’s got. The Sky will get a quick, close look, hoping she can inject some much-needed life into that flagging offense, even for a few critical moments. For Martin, those few games are everything. It’s her ultimate chance to show she absolutely belongs, to fight for her WNBA future with everything she’s got. Talk about feeling the pressure, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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