Caitlin Clark Bids Farewell to Former Fever Teammate
The Golden State Valkyries have finalized their roster ahead of their 2025 league debut, and two of Caitlin Clark’s former teammates have joined the team. The headline selection from Friday’s expansion draft was Kate Martin, Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes teammate for four seasons. Martin, who recently wrapped up her rookie year with the Las Vegas Aces, began 2024 as a key bench player. However, her minutes diminished as the Aces’ star players returned to full health.
Joining Martin on the Valkyries is forward Temi Fagbenle, Clark’s teammate last season with the Indiana Fever. The former USC Trojan appeared in 22 games during the 2024 regular season, battling multiple injuries but proving essential to the Fever’s playoff run when available. In her lone season with the Fever, Fagbenle averaged 6.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks across 18.9 minutes per game, leading the team’s bench in both scoring and playing time.
Fagbenle expressed her gratitude to the Fever with an Instagram post on Saturday, featuring a highlight reel from the 2024 season. She wrote:
“Thank you for a great season, Indiana Fever. To my teammates: we had a season of revelations and growth. So proud of y’all for persevering. Thank you for lifting me and each other. F the noise. Keep growing together. Thank you for the consistent energy, Indy fans. Y’all are solid. Very grateful. Very blessed.”
Clark and Fever guard Lexie Hull responded in the comments, sharing heartfelt goodbyes. “Love ya, Tem!” Clark wrote, adding a heart emoji. Hull followed with, “Going to miss you, Tem!” and three heart emojis.
After her one-year contract expired following the Fever’s playoff exit, Fagbenle became a restricted free agent. However, Indiana chose not to protect her during the expansion draft, marking the end of her time with the team. Now, Clark and her teammates face the challenge of moving forward without a key contributor from the bench.
