When you think of Iowa guards starting their rookie season in the WNBA, you likely think of Caitlin Clark. However, another former Hawkeye guard is making an impact—and her name is Kate Martin.
While Clark was the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever, earning all the praise and attention, no one rolled out the red carpet for Martin. In fact, on draft night, she attended to support her teammate, but was selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the second round with the No. 18 pick. “I had seen my name in some mock drafts and whatnot,” Martin told Swish Appeal, “but I was there supporting Caitlin obviously, and then I heard my name a little earlier than expected, and it was just amazing.”
While getting drafted into the WNBA is hard, staying on the roster is even harder. Not many thought Martin would be good enough to make the team, given that the Aces are back-to-back champions looking to three-peat.
Still, despite the odds being stacked against her, Matin was one of three second rounders in this year’s draft to make it on a WNBA roster after the end of training camp. “I found out a few days ago, and I cried,” Martin said during media availability after it was official she made the team. She continued:
I was so excited. I felt like a lot of hard work was paying off. Whenever you come into a team like this who are back-to-back world champions, you don’t really know what your odds are going to be. I was really proud of myself and really happy that I gave myself the opportunity to make the team and be alongside some great teammates.
Martin’s numbers may not shock and awe, as she’s averaging a mere 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists during her 17.2 minutes of play per game, but she’s on a team that has no time or patience for development. The Aces are expecting to win it all, and if you’re on the floor, that’s because the franchise believes you can impact winning at the highest possible level. She did just that when she played the Clark-led Fever and scored 12 points on 3-for-5 shooting, helping the Aces win, 99-80.
While her offensive production is helpful, it is her defensive tenacity that makes Martin so good. In practice, she’s going up against the likes of Kelsey Plum and now Chelsea Gray, not only getting tested by them but also pushing them and helping the best get better. She can be a Swiss Army knife on this roster, a role that has gotten her so much love from Aces fans.
It’s one of the reasons why, despite being a lower-minute role player, she was 12th in the first round of All-Star fan voting returns. Martin was flattered and humbled by it all, but also stressed how many other players were more deserving of that attention.
Kate Martin is 12th in WNBA All-Star votes.
Her reaction:
“Oh my gosh… I feel really grateful for the fan support I have… They don’t have to go vote for me, it takes time out of people’s day… I really appreciate all my fans.”@reviewjournal #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/gZ4MmvPZ5Z
— dominic lavoie (@dominicjlavoie) June 24, 2024
Isn’t that such a perfect response from Martin? On draft night, she was in New York not for herself, but for Clark. When she found out she made the Aces roster, she cried tears of joy. And when fans stuff the ballot box for her, she thinks of the other players who should be getting those votes instead. No wonder her nickname is “The Glue.” She’s so valuable and necessary to ensuring a team sticks together, but she just does that job without expecting the shine or the attention.
Every title team needs a Martin—a player who sacrifices for the greater good, who not only does the grunt work but embraces it. Someone who is a cog in the machine and makes sure the engine runs well.
In this rookie class, there may be bigger names getting a lot of attention, but Martin may be the only one who will play minutes in games that matter come playoff time.