This offseason, change is in the air for the Las Vegas Aces. The future of Kelsey Plum remains in the air, with reports of a possible move to Los Angeles in a high-profile trade. As the Aces prepare to bid goodbye to Plum, there is still some regret lingering from losing popular rookie Kate Martin to the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA expansion draft. A’ja Wilson had high praise for Martin when the move was made official in December, but it seems she hasn’t gotten over her departure yet.

The expansion draft was always going to shake up the WNBA. The teams could only protect a handful of players and those left behind were snapped up by the Valkyries, who added seven international names to their initial 11-player roster. The University of Iowa alum, who was picked 18th overall by the Aces in the 2024 draft, was one of those few US-based players to join the new franchise.

The fan-favorite rookie has been displaying her talents in the women’s 3-on-3 Unrivaled league. On Friday, she scored in double figures as her Laces team beat Vinyl to move 3-0 for the season. She finished with 11 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal and her shooting was a solid 5-for-11 from the field.

A fan shared a clip from the game on Threads where Martin can be seen making an incredible basket and wrote, “Las Vegas Aces are gonna regret not retaining Kate Martin. Golden State Valkyries look like they got a serious steal for their inaugural season.” Her former teammate, A’ja Wilson was quick to react to the post with an emotional message.

A’ja Wilson shared, “Did I scream and fall to my knees in the kitchen when I heard her name get called …lol yeah ..was I sad….absolutely! But no regrets at all because Kate is covered! 🤍 we love our girl! She deserves this shine and moment!”

As a second-round draft pick, Martin had a solid season overall. She played in 34 games, started two, and averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game in just an average of 11.5 minutes of action. She also had a special moment when she got one over her former Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark in the game in May. Martin came off the bench to finish with 12 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes.

Another highlight was when she had seven points, six rebounds, and four assists in a September victory over the Dallas Wings. Apart from her exciting cameos, she also became popular due to her bond with A’ja Wilson, which included a pre-game handshake inspired by “Finding Nemo.”

A’ja Wilson had previously stated her disappointment in seeing the Iowa alumna leave, writing, “My baby, so happy for you, you are a gem,”  on her Instagram story.

At Golden State, Martin will team up with former Indiana Fever forward Temi Fagbenle and Kayla Thornton, who won the championship with New York Liberty last year. Martin has a lot to look forward to and she is excited to get started.

“I’m really excited,” Martin said during her ESPN interview. “This league is all about opportunity, and you just need one shot, right? I’m very thankful for the Aces and everything I got to learn there, but I’m really excited for this new beginning and to build something from the ground up with the Valkyries.”

Martin will have a familiar face at Valkyries as their head coach is Natalie Nakase, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Aces.

The crowd erupted in cheers as her name was called. Her name drew the loudest noise and “Money” Martin is easily seen as the face of the new franchise. While the Valkyries look forward to their first season, the Aces face the challenge of replacing Martin, Kelsey Plum’s possible departure has added more headache for the front office.

Jewell Loyd-Kelsey Plum trade that will shape WNBA free agency

In a recent tweet by WNBA enthusiast Annie Costabile, she highlighted a crucial point,

This tweet underscores just how pivotal this trade between the Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, and Seattle Storm is for the current WNBA free agency period. As sources confirm, this trade will kick things off for the free agency period.

The situation began with Loyd’s trade request in December, which forced Seattle to reassess its strategy to restructure the roster rather than just strengthen its already established core. Loyd’s clear preference for Las Vegas has complicated negotiations, as Seattle searches for assets that can help balance its roster moving forward.

On the flip side, while Kelsey Plum hasn’t publicly requested a trade, there’s a strong understanding that she’s ready to leave the Aces. The Aces have made a core offer to her, which means she cannot negotiate with other teams unless she receives permission from the Aces, but she can request a trade.

The Sparks, while not as deep as the Aces, offer a fresh opportunity for Plum, particularly as the team looks to rebuild with up-and-coming stars like Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink.

The main obstacle in the trade talks is finding the right fit for Seattle’s backcourt. The Storm are looking to diversify their roster, making it essential to secure a player who complements their existing roster. Additionally, the Aces are working without an official general manager, which adds another layer of uncertainty, further complicating their ability to finalize trades. With salary cap limitations for all three teams, moving forward with the trade becomes even more difficult.

As Las Vegas faces this major shift, one question remains: Can the Aces overcome these losses, or will the team dynamics forever be altered by these departures? The offseason has only just begun, and the answers may depend on how quickly the dust settles—and if A’ja’s heart can heal in time to lead her team to another championship.