Marta Suárez is on the move again. The Phoenix Mercury waived the rookie forward on Thursday, ending a 10-game stint during the WNBA's 30th anniversary season.
How Marta Suárez Ended Up with the Phoenix Mercury
The 6-foot-3 Spanish forward's path to Phoenix was anything but direct. Seattle selected the former TCU standout No. 16 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, then immediately traded her rights to the Golden State Valkyries. After one preseason appearance, Golden State waived her.
The Valkyries offered Suárez a developmental deal, but she turned it down and chose the Phoenix Mercury instead, signing a developmental contract on May 6th. As injuries hit the roster, the Mercury moved her to a seven-day hardship contract on July 9th.
Marta Suárez’s WNBA Stats and Future
Despite limited minutes in Phoenix, Suárez produced for her team. She averaged 3.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range. She posted a career-high 10 points against the Indiana Fever on July 9.
Still, Phoenix moved on. With Marta Suárez waived for the second time this season, the promising forward heads back to the waiver wire. Her shooting touch and floor spacing could draw interest from teams looking for offensive depth.
Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 points on perfect shooting off the bench as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Indiana Fever 88-75 on Wednesday in Indianapolis. The win extended Golden State's streak to eight games and capped a perfect 5-0 road trip.
Kaitlyn Chen Sparks Valkyries vs Fever Third-Quarter Run
Chen didn't score in the first half. But she took over in the third quarter, hitting all four of her field goal attempts for 12 points in the period. Her 3-point play with two seconds left gave the Valkyries a 58-51 lead. She then opened the fourth with a driving layup to extend the lead to nine.
In just 10 minutes of action, she finished 5-of-5 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.
Golden State's defense proved just as decisive in the match.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever Match Player Stats
The Valkyries held Indiana, which came in averaging over 93 points per game, to just 75 on 40% shooting while forcing 16 turnovers. Gabby Williams led Golden State with 16 points.
On the other end, Kelsey Mitchell paced the Fever with 20 points, but Caitlin Clark managed just 13 points and six assists on 4-of-14 shooting after a second-quarter injury scare.
With the win, Golden State (18-7) heads home after the successful road swing. They'll next face the Washington Mystics Saturday at 8:30 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.
Caitlin Clark did not hold back after the Indiana Fever's 88-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday. The Fever guard called out officials for a missed foul call that left her limping through the game with a painful leg injury.
The contact came midway through the second quarter. Clark drove to the basket and took a hard hit from Valkyries center Kiah Stokes, but no whistle came. She confronted referee Gerda Gatling at the next stoppage and received an official warning.
That uncalled foul left Clark with a quad contusion she carried through the rest of the Valkyries vs Fever matchup.
Caitlin Clark Missed Call Sparks Controversy in Valkyries vs Fever Clash
"The ref can't miss that," Clark said after the game. "And then I have to play with a contusion in my leg the rest of the game. It's ridiculous. [The ref] said I initiated the contact. Which is fine, but you can't knee me in the leg. Knock me over."
Clark finished with 13 points, six assists, and three rebounds in 26 minutes. But head coach Stephanie White echoed her guard's frustration with the night's officiating.
"They said Caitlin initiated the contact," White said. "She seems to always be initiating the contact. I'm trying to not get fined. Again, all I'll say is that we just keep asking for consistency."
Despite the bruise, Clark joked postgame she would "just rub it out" with some knuckles.
The latest Fever game result dropped Indiana to 14-10. They'll next face the Seattle Storm tomorrow at 7:30 PM ET, live on ION.
Two of the WNBA’s hottest teams collide tonight, as No. 3 Golden State visits No. 5 Indiana with the Valkyries hunting a franchise-record eighth straight victory.
The Fever enters the series rubber match averaging 94 points on 47.3% shooting, pitting the league’s No. 1 offense against a Golden State defense that allows just 76.2 points per game while leading the WNBA in 3-pointers.
The Valkyries took the pair’s May 28th meeting 90-88 behind Veronica Burton’s 25 points, while Indiana looks to run back Sunday’s 109-75 smackdown of No. 2 Las Vegas.
Kelsey Mitchell lit up the Fever with 25.9 points per game over her last 10, while Caitlin Clark is chipping in 20.1 points and 7.7 assists this season.
Kiah Stokes carries Golden State with 1.8 blocks per game — tied for the league’s second-most — while Gabby Williams is averaging a team-best 15 points per game despite missing Friday’s 79-64 win over No. 14 Connecticut with a back contusion.
“Playing through adversity has been the key,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase told reporters. “We need everybody. We picked up the model from the [NBA’s] Warriors of strength in numbers.”
Where to Watch Tonight's Golden State Valkyries vs Indiana Fever WNBA Game
Indiana battles Golden State tonight at 8 PM ET, live on USA.
As the season reaches its midway point, daylight is emerging between WNBA Finals contenders and underdogs — and the sportsbooks are responding with a betting odds shakeup.
In just its second year, Golden State rose to fourth on the championship odds board, leapfrogging Atlanta to sit at +900 on FanDuel and DraftKings.
The Valkyries trail frontrunners Minnesota (+160), Las Vegas (+310), and New York (+450), while the Dream caps the Top 5 with 13-1 odds to win the title.
Big-name bookmakers remain divided on potential upsets, with FanDuel favoring Indiana (+1700) over Dallas (+1900) for the sixth-shortest odds.
DK Sports gives the Fever and Wings an even split at +1800, while all other teams weigh in at +15,000 or longer.
This season’s longest shot is also up for debate, as FanDuel has newcomer Portland bringing up the rear at +50,000, while DK puts last-place Connecticut at the bottom with a 1000-1 chance at a ring.
A WNBA fan favorite may have found her permanent home this week. The LA Sparks announced on Monday that guard Kate Martin has signed with the team on a standard contract. The former Iowa Hawkeye was previously competing in the team’s developmental player pool during the first half of the 2026 WNBA season.
"Kate has made a meaningful impact on our group both on and off the court," said Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley. "She brings versatility on both ends of the floor, competes at a high level and consistently puts the team first."
The Sparks subsequently waived rookie Ta’Niyah Latson, selected by LA at No. 20 in the 2026 draft.
Kate Martin's WNBA Path From Vegas to Golden State to LA
Originally drafted to Las Vegas in 2024, Martin spent a season in Golden State in 2025 before suffering one of the team’s final cuts prior to the 2026 season tip-off. She made her return to the court as a development player in LA for a Sparks team struggling with roster injuries.
"I feel very grateful for the opportunity," Martin told the Long Beach Press-Telegram on Monday. "I think coming here has been great for my career."
The Golden State Valkyries have claimed the No. 1 spot in the 2026 WNBA power rankings. A five-game winning streak pushed the expansion side past former champions the New York Liberty for the first time this season.
And their defense is what carried the climb.
Valkyries' Defense Shuts Down Washington Mystics
On Monday against the Washington Mystics, Golden State shot just 35% from the field and scored only 62 points. Still, the Valkyries won by 13 after holding Washington to 49, a league-low score this season. The Mystics managed just 16 second-half points, also the fewest by any WNBA team this year.
Not a single Golden State starter reached double figures. Instead, the Valkyries' bench made the difference.
Guard Kaitlyn Chen led all scorers with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 21 minutes, sparking 39 combined reserve points.
"Our defense is all effort and sort of a mental thing," Chen said after the game. "It's something we put all our focus in every day."
Coach Natalie Nakase also credited halftime adjustments for Golden State's win over the Mystics. The Valkyries allowed 22 points in the paint before the break, then just eight after it.
Golden State Valkyries Pull Ahead of New York Liberty in Power Rankings
While the New York Liberty search for consistency as they try to stay in the playoffs race, Golden State (15-7) is building its case on the defensive end.
The Valkyries will next face the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday at 7 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.
The Golden State Valkyries’ winning roll continued this weekend, earning their third victory over Atlanta 88-83 on Saturday to further strengthen their grip on the No. 3 spot in the WNBA standings.
Golden State currently holds the WNBA’s longest winning streak at four games, led by guard Veronica Burton, who scored 21 points over the weekend — holding off a 22-point performance from Atlanta guard Allisha Gray.
"You just gotta keep playing — the refs are trash," Gray said, unhappy with Saturday’s officiating. "But we're moving on from that. Just gotta lock in, stick to the game plan, just keep playing aggressive.”
Mystics Face Valkyries Defense with Sonia Citron's Status in Question
Golden State will bring their smothering defense again tonight against the Washington Mystics, who hold the No. 8 spot in the WNBA standings after winning five of their last seven games.
Washington will be hoping for the return of leading scorer Sonia Citron, who had to sit out the Mystics’ win over Atlanta on Thursday with a right knee injury, fresh off a 32-point performance against Portland in quadruple overtime.
“Sonia’s special, she’s a really, really, really good player,” said Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson. “Obviously we’re at our best when she’s out there.”
Golden State takes on Washington tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on WNBA LeaguePass.
New York lost 76-67 to Golden State on Sunday, dropping the Liberty vs Valkyries matchup at Chase Center.
The defeat is New York's fourth in five games, a skid that has raised real questions about a team still trying to build chemistry under first-year coach Chris DeMarco.
Golden State Bench Shines in Liberty vs Valkyries win
Golden State pulled away with a surge late in the second quarter, taking a 12-point lead into halftime. New York scored just 29 points before the break, its lowest first-half output of 2026. The gap eventually stretched to 22.
Forward Jonquel Jones was a bright spot for New York, leading the Liberty with 21 points, while veteran Breanna Stewart added 15. But Sabrina Ionescu went scoreless through the first two quarters, finishing with just nine points on 3-of-10 shooting as she continues her comeback after an early-season injury.
Golden State's reserves, meanwhile, outpaced New York's bench 39-11. Veronica Burton anchored the second unit with eight points, eight assists, and six rebounds.
Jones, Stewart Demand More Ahead of WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final
Stewart spoke bluntly about her team's performance after the game.
"You can't play with heart and play with effort just when things are going good," she said. "It's really the moments when you're at the lowest."
Those sentiments echoed comments Jones made last week following the Liberty's loss to the Seattle Storm. "It's not about the reps, it's not about playing time, it's not about none of that stuff. It's about having some heart and playing with some f***ing heart," Jones said on Thursday.
Now 12-8 and fifth in the WNBA standings, the Liberty need to turn things around quickly. They face the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday in the Commissioner's Cup final. That game airs at 7 PM ET, live on Prime.
Golden State is made a statement in Sunday’s Liberty vs Valkyries game, after the 76-67 win over No. 5 New York boosted the No. 3 Valkyries up the WNBA standings.
Golden State held all but two Liberty starters to single-digit scoring. The Valkyries tallied a three-game winning streak behind a balanced defensive effort and guard Kaila Charles’s 13 points off the bench.
“Our biggest thing coming into this three-game stretch was being on the same page,” said Charles. “When we are, we are a really, really great team.”
The result extended New York’s two-game skid. The short-staffed Liberty is struggling to keep up with gritty opponents.
New York forward Satou Sabally is entering concussion protocol, after the Liberty stumbled to its lowest-scoring first half this year on Sunday.
“It’s really the moments when you’re at the lowest,” said forward Breanna Stewart. “We’re obviously not a finished product, but this wasn’t a great showing.”
Where to This Week's Watch WNBA Games
New York next takes on Las Vegas in tomorrow’s 7 PM ET Commissioner’s Cup final (Prime). Meanwhile, Golden State will aim to keep momentum rolling through Saturday’s 1 PM ET clash with Atlanta (CBS).