With the 18th pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Las Vegas Aces selected Kate Martin out of Iowa.
It came as a complete surprise to just about everyone — including her.
The 23-year-old wasn’t one of the 15 players invited to the draft ceremony, but she joined fellow Hawkeyes Gabbie Marshall and Jada Gyamfi in the stands to support their other teammate — Caitlin Clark.
Clark was the first player off the board, but that didn’t shock anyone.
Martin, on the other hand, had no idea she would hear her name called — let alone midway through the second round.
But nearly two hours after Clark took the stage, that’s exactly what happened when the Las Vegas Aces came calling.
“There are a lot of emotions right now,” Martin said in an interview on ESPN.
“I’m really happy to be here. I was here to support Caitlin, but I was hoping to hear my name called. All I wanted was an opportunity and I got it. I’m really excited.”
Martin is now the second former Hawkeye to join the Aces this offseason — Megan Gustafson being the other. Martin was a redshirt freshman during Gustafson’s senior year at Iowa.
Now, they’re teammates again.
Caitlin Clark Shares High Praise for Kate Martin
Kate Martin spent six seasons with Iowa, and played in five of them — four of which as a full-time starter.
She played in 163 games for the Hawkeyes, including 139 starts.
Those final four years saw her form an extremely close bond with the No. 1 overall pick, Caitlin Clark.
“I think everybody in our locker room, and every one of the coaches, would say she’s someone we learn from every single day. Somebody that has our backs,” Clark said earlier this month.
Clark and Martin are the first Iowa teammates to join the WNBA in the same draft.
They’re also the first two Hawkeyes to share the stage on Saturday Night Live (she’s on the right with Clark and Marshall):
Clark shared high praise for Martin ahead of their trip to the 2024 National Championship game.
“To be honest, I don’t think I’d have the type of career if I don’t have a teammate like Kate,” she said. “She’s been one that has had my back. She holds me accountable. I hold her accountable. But I think at the same time, me and Kate are wired so similarly that we get each other on a different level.”
If she can make the team, Martin will see Clark and the Indiana Fever on May 25 at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Martin Ready to Prove Her Worth
Martin finished her collegiate career with 1,299 points, 756 rebounds, 473 assists, and two title appearances.
Her 2023-24 season was the best of her career, finishing with career-highs in points (13.1), rebounds (6.8), and field goal percentage (51%). She also shot 37% from long range.
She faces an uphill battle for a roster spot, but she has the tools to get her there.
“I’m super excited for the opportunity. I have a really good work ethic, but more than anything, I think I’m a really versatile player,” she said.
Martin might be 6-foot-0, but she plays like she’s 6-foot-8.
She battles hard in the paint, grabs rebounds you wouldn’t expect her to grab, and is a leader in the huddle. She’s exactly what Becky Hammon is looking for in a guard-forward.
“I can score at multiple levels and I can guard multiple positions. But I’m really excited to get there and I know I’m gonna give it all I got.”
Training Camp Starts Soon
In less than two weeks, Martin will join her fellow rookies at training camp — which begins April 28. Final rosters are due by May 13, and their first game is the following day.
Martin will have to fight for her spot on the roster, but Las Vegas Aces general manager Natalie Williams likes what she sees already.
“I don’t think Iowa does as well as they’ve done over the many years without Kate Martin,” she said — citing her ability to ‘play the two through four’ at just 6-foot-0. “She’s just a true competitor.”
The Aces also drafted Dyaisha Fair (Syracuse), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), and Angel Jackson (Jackson State).
They have a roster of 18 players, but only 11 or 12 will make the team.
It’s about to get real!
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