Sabrina Ionescu Reacts to Kate Martin's Big Play After Liberty-Valkyries Game
Sabrina Ionescu Reacts to Kate Martin's Big Play After Liberty-Valkyries Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Kate Martin had arguably the best game of her young WNBA career on Wednesday night as her Golden State Valkyries fell to Sabrina Ionescu and the defending champion New York Liberty, 81-78.
Advertisement
In front of another sold-out crowd at Chase Center, Martin scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting and 4-of-10 from distance in 24 minutes of action. She also added two rebounds and a steal. Ionescu put up 11 points on 1-of-11 shooting and seven rebounds.
Martin scored 12 of her 21 points in the final five minutes of the game. With the Valkyries trailing by six, she sparked a personal 9-2 run to give Golden State the lead. Martin was also the only Valkyries player to score in the final 6:30 of play.
Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin.Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
One of Martin's 3-pointers drew praise from Ionescu. With 1:59 remaining, Martin hit the third long-range shot of her personal run, giving Golden State a one-point lead. The San Francisco crowd erupted in response to her clutch play.
After the win, Ionescu spoke to the reporters for a postgame press conference. When asked about playing in "Ballhalla" for the first time, Ionescu, who grew up near San Francisco, mentioned Martin's big 3-pointer.
Advertisement
"It's kinda fun to be a competitor and have those cheers go against you," Ionescu said. "I think we were able to kind of withstand their runs. They went on huge runs. Kate Martin hit a huge three, feel like the building was about to pop off. So it was just fun."
With the loss, Martin and the Valkyries saw their two-game winning streak come to an end, falling to 7-7 to begin the 2025 WNBA season. Ionescu and the Liberty, on the other hand, improve to 11-3 and remain atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Related: Brittney Griner's Wife Sends Two-Word Message to DeWanna Bonner After Leaving Fever
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
37 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Kara Lawson has always been a basketball trailblazer and has a legit chance to lead USA squad in LA
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Kara Lawson has always been a basketball trailblazer and now the Duke women's coach has a legit chance to lead USA to another gold medal. She has already done it once. Lawson guided the Americans to a 3-on-3 Olympic gold medal and could have the chance to lead the USA's 5-on-5 squad at the Los Angeles Games in three years. First up is coaching the U.S. AmeriCup team that begins play this weekend in Chile. Coaching is something she wanted to do since she was a young girl growing up in Virginia. She just didn't know it would be for her country. 'I played for a long time, and, so I got into coaching a little bit later just because I had a long playing career, which is as a good excuse as any to get into coaching later,' Lawson quipped during an interview with The Associated Press. 'So I was always drawn to it. I just didn't know what my entry point was.' She just thought the entry point might be at the high school level as the WNBA didn't exist and college wasn't something she strived to do. Fast forward 37 years and she's in charge of the group of college players heading to South America. 'I'm fortunate enough to be assigned something as important as America's head coach, my goal is to do the best job possible,' Lawson said during a break as she prepared her team for the World Cup qualifying tournament. The 44-year-old Lawson could become the second African American to lead the USA women's Olympic basketball team. Dawn Staley was the women's head coach for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Lawson was a point guard at Tennessee and credits her time learning under iconic Lady Vols Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt as a big reason for her recent success roaming the sidelines. 'If you wanna learn how to coach, why not go to the best coach,' Lawson said. Lawson has had success already with USA Basketball, leading the 3-on-3 team to a gold medal at the Tokyo Games. She didn't want to look at this opportunity as a tryout to be the 2028 Olympic coach or even next year's World Cup where she is on the short list to be the next head coach. That decision will be made by Sue Bird , who took over as the new national team managing director earlier this year. 'In my experience in life, if you just keep that mindset of being in the moment, more opportunities tend to happen for you,' said Lawson, who helped the USA win gold in 2008 at the Bejing Games, where she and Bird were teammates. 'And if you're so worried about where you fit and who goes where, and am I next in line? I just never found that to to be productive and drives you crazy and it's a waste of energy. 'So I try to just lock in on like, 'what do I need to do at this job to be really good?' ' Lawson's path to coaching wasn't the one many have taken. She went from playing 13 years in the WNBA to becoming a broadcaster. From there, she spent some time with the Boston Celtics as an assistant before getting the Duke job in 2020. She led Duke to its first ACC Tournament championship under her coaching this past March and the Blue Devils made a run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The team has advanced further in the NCAAs each of the past three seasons. Coaching in the AmeriCup is a full circle moment for Lawson. She played in the AmeriCup in 2007, which was also in Chile, and helped the U.S. win it and qualify for the Beijing Olympics the next year. Now she'll try and lead the team to another victory and the automatic berth to the World Cup next year in Germany. 'I think the mentality for every team is to win,' Lawson said. 'Our group understands that we're on the lower end of the experience totem pole entering this competition and that we're going to face some very good teams. So the race is on for us to gain continuity, pick up our playbook as quickly as we can and get on the same page.' She knows the pressure that comes with coaching a USA team. Anything less than a gold medal is considered a failure. Lawson doesn't let the lofty expectations create additional pressure on her. DeLisha Milton-Jones was a teammate of Lawson's on the 2007 AmeriCup team and now is coaching with her. She's been impressed with what she's seen so far from Lawson as a coach. 'She has a knack for the game,' Milton-Jones said. 'Kara is well versed when it comes to the game. Started off at an early age going to games with her father. Going to college and being coached by one of the greatest ever to coach. Having experiences from NBA, WNBA, international side of things.' In the AmeriCup, Lawson will be coaching some of the most talented players in women's college basketball, including Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Olivia Miles (TCU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Madison Booker (Texas), Joyce Edwards (South Carolina) and Raegan Beers (Oklahoma). Lawson has made an impression. 'The intensity she brings every day, you feel it like that's a pro right there,' Johnson said. 'Just learning from her I learned so much in these (few) days, it's been amazing.' ___ The Associated Press' women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at . ___ AP WNBA:
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Kara Lawson has always been a basketball trailblazer and has a legit chance to lead USA squad in LA
Associated Press COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Kara Lawson has always been a basketball trailblazer and now the Duke women's coach has a legit chance to lead USA to another gold medal. She has already done it once. Lawson guided the Americans to a 3-on-3 Olympic gold medal and could have the chance to lead the USA's 5-on-5 squad at the Los Angeles Games in three years. First up is coaching the U.S. AmeriCup team that begins play this weekend in Chile. Coaching is something she wanted to do since she was a young girl growing up in Virginia. She just didn't know it would be for her country. 'I played for a long time, and, so I got into coaching a little bit later just because I had a long playing career, which is as a good excuse as any to get into coaching later,' Lawson quipped during an interview with The Associated Press. 'So I was always drawn to it. I just didn't know what my entry point was.' She just thought the entry point might be at the high school level as the WNBA didn't exist and college wasn't something she strived to do. Fast forward 37 years and she's in charge of the group of college players heading to South America. 'I'm fortunate enough to be assigned something as important as America's head coach, my goal is to do the best job possible,' Lawson said during a break as she prepared her team for the World Cup qualifying tournament. The 44-year-old Lawson could become the second African American to lead the USA women's Olympic basketball team. Dawn Staley was the women's head coach for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Lawson was a point guard at Tennessee and credits her time learning under iconic Lady Vols Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt as a big reason for her recent success roaming the sidelines. 'If you wanna learn how to coach, why not go to the best coach,' Lawson said. Lawson has had success already with USA Basketball, leading the 3-on-3 team to a gold medal at the Tokyo Games. She didn't want to look at this opportunity as a tryout to be the 2028 Olympic coach or even next year's World Cup where she is on the short list to be the next head coach. That decision will be made by Sue Bird, who took over as the new national team managing director earlier this year. 'In my experience in life, if you just keep that mindset of being in the moment, more opportunities tend to happen for you,' said Lawson, who helped the USA win gold in 2008 at the Bejing Games, where she and Bird were teammates. 'And if you're so worried about where you fit and who goes where, and am I next in line? I just never found that to to be productive and drives you crazy and it's a waste of energy. "So I try to just lock in on like, 'what do I need to do at this job to be really good?' ' Lawson's path to coaching wasn't the one many have taken. She went from playing 13 years in the WNBA to becoming a broadcaster. From there, she spent some time with the Boston Celtics as an assistant before getting the Duke job in 2020. She led Duke to its first ACC Tournament championship under her coaching this past March and the Blue Devils made a run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The team has advanced further in the NCAAs each of the past three seasons. Coaching in the AmeriCup is a full circle moment for Lawson. She played in the AmeriCup in 2007, which was also in Chile, and helped the U.S. win it and qualify for the Beijing Olympics the next year. Now she'll try and lead the team to another victory and the automatic berth to the World Cup next year in Germany. 'I think the mentality for every team is to win,' Lawson said. 'Our group understands that we're on the lower end of the experience totem pole entering this competition and that we're going to face some very good teams. So the race is on for us to gain continuity, pick up our playbook as quickly as we can and get on the same page.' She knows the pressure that comes with coaching a USA team. Anything less than a gold medal is considered a failure. Lawson doesn't let the lofty expectations create additional pressure on her. DeLisha Milton-Jones was a teammate of Lawson's on the 2007 AmeriCup team and now is coaching with her. She's been impressed with what she's seen so far from Lawson as a coach. 'She has a knack for the game,' Milton-Jones said. 'Kara is well versed when it comes to the game. Started off at an early age going to games with her father. Going to college and being coached by one of the greatest ever to coach. Having experiences from NBA, WNBA, international side of things.' In the AmeriCup, Lawson will be coaching some of the most talented players in women's college basketball, including Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Olivia Miles (TCU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Madison Booker (Texas), Joyce Edwards (South Carolina) and Raegan Beers (Oklahoma). Lawson has made an impression. 'The intensity she brings every day, you feel it like that's a pro right there,' Johnson said. 'Just learning from her I learned so much in these (few) days, it's been amazing.' ___ The Associated Press' women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at ___ AP WNBA: in this topic
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
Makayla Timpson growing despite ‘tough' rookie year, will be needed with frontcourt depth limited
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Fever forward Natasha Howard texted Makayla Timpson before each game during the rookie's junior year at Florida State. 'Happy Game Day. Take the shot you want to take, and if you don't have the shot, rip and go,' read Howard's messages. Two years later, the Florida State alums became teammates when the Fever drafted Timpson in the second round of the 2025 WNBA draft. Their mentor-mentee relationship has only strengthened since Timpson joined Indiana. Timpson called her rookie campaign 'tough' and said it's been 'a lot of learning' but tries not to overwhelm herself with the process. The 22-year-old said she's growing in her ability to move without the ball, recognizing the significance of '45 and 90 cuts' and its ability to get herself and her teammates open. Through the difficult transition, by her side is an 11-year-veteran and three-time WNBA champion in Howard. 'She's been leading me the way, guiding me through this process and keeping my head on right,' Timpson said. 'I see the things she does and try to model myself after her and be as successful as she has been in the league.' Howard sees the resemblance between herself and Timpson. Howard said Timpson 'brings back memories of me rookie year' because of her athleticism, length and vertical ability. Drafted in 2014, Howard won a ring alongside Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) in 2017 and two with Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) in 2018 and 2020. Both Moore and Bird are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Howard said vets like Moore and Bird made sure 'I got everything.' Whether it's inviting Timpson to her home for a meal or doing TikToks with the Georgia native, Howard hopes to provide Timpson with the same support she received as a rookie. 'I call her my twin. I love her to death,' Howard said. 'I always make sure she doesn't have to pay for anything. When I got in the league, the other vets were making sure I got everything that I need. So, I'm making sure she got everything that she needs.' Howard often instructs Timpson to be patient and stay intuitive in her first year. Fever coach Stephanie White praised Timpson for staying engaged during practice and consistently working with player development coach Keith Porter. White expects Timpson to play more minutes with Damiris Dantas' departure to play for Brazil in the FIBA Women's AmeriCup. Timpson played five minutes in the Fever's 85-75 home loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday. Though Timpson only averages 1.6 minutes per game this season, invaluable time alongside Howard lends White to believe Timpson's future is bright. 'She has a road map right in front of her, and they have such a unique relationship. I think it's gonna continue to help her grow in tremendous ways,' White said. 'Tash has been someone that's connected and communicated with her. It's been fortuitous that they are both here together, and she can help Makayla learn how to be a pro.' Timpson's personal goals for the year are to 'stay consistent and work hard.' She knows one can't develop without counsel and seeks advice from all Fever veterans, not just Howard. 'I love wisdom. I love hanging around older people. Not saying they're old in that way,' Timpson said with a smile. 'But just getting that knowledge from them, they know a lot. I want to know as much as they know, and they can correct me anytime they can. 'I'm working hard, and I know when my number is called, I'll be ready to impact the game and be a great teammate.' Howard commended Timpson for 'staying ready' regardless of her playing time. Because of Timpson's commitment to preparation, Howard has no doubt her mentee will excel in the WNBA. 'In this league, she gon' be able to show what she can do,' Howard said.
