Why Kate Martin is signing a developmental contract with the Sky originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kate Martin and the Chicago Sky both have nothing to lose.
The Sky will miss the WNBA playoffs for the third season running, and Chicago will finish under .500 for the fourth year in a row. Mired in a rebuild that increasingly looks endless, the Sky needs to cast a wide net for talent; for example, Chicago's next franchise player might well be explosive shooting guard Sydney Taylor, an undrafted rookie out of Louisville.
Martin's WNBA career is on the ropes. A former college teammate of Caitlin Clark, Martin has played for three WNBA teams in as many seasons since the Las Vegas Aces drafted her 18th overall in 2024. She most recently spent part of 2026 with the Los Angeles Sparks, who waived her after 17 games.
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Martin and the Sky are joining forces for the remainder of the season, as Chicago signed her to a developmental contract on Wednesday.
welcome to The Chi, Kate! 🩵
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) September 2, 2026
we’ve officially signed Kate Martin to a developmental contract. #skytownpic.twitter.com/ryjZjcvSMC
In the WNBA, a developmental contract applies to players with three years of experience or less. A team can carry up to two players on developmental contracts outside the standard 12-player roster, and developmental contracts do not count against the salary cap.
Martin can play up to 12 games before a decision has to made about converting her contract into a standard deal. The Sky has only four games remaining after the FIBA World Cup break ends on Sept. 17.
In the few games that remain, the Sky will get a closer look at Martin to see if she can help a flagging offense that ranks 12th in offensive efficiency.
For Martin, the opportunity could well be her last shot to latch on in the WNBA.