Kate Martin’s stunning rookie yr is WNBA’s feel-good story of season

As Caitlin Clark was embarking on her historic school profession at Iowa, the fixed infatuation together with her play helped make family names out of a few her teammates. Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall began alongside Clark for all 4 years at Iowa, serving to present the defensive spine and out of doors taking pictures obligatory for ghe Hawkeyes to go on a pair of runs to the Ultimate 4.

When Iowa finally got here up quick within the nationwide championship sport two years in a row, first towards LSU after which towards South Carolina, a well-recognized chorus was repeated: Clark was the one future WNBA participant on her crew. The Hawkeyes have been cohesive and well-coached and undeniably fascinating, however they didn’t have sufficient expertise round their celebrity Clark.

Even Martin appeared to agree with this evaluation. As Iowa was going by way of its 2024 NCAA match run, Martin stated in an interview that she was attempting to cherish each second as a result of ‘fairly quickly’ she was going to be only a “common Joe Schmo.” Watch the viral clip right here:

Martin couldn’t have been extra mistaken.

The WNBA is seeing a historic rookie class this season, and Martin is the shock title making an affect. The 6’0 wing is taking part in a crucial function off the bench for the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces, and her story retains getting higher.

On Sunday night time, Martin made her first profession begin. She completed with 13 factors, 4 rebounds, and three assists on 5-of-7 taking pictures from the ground and 3-of-3 taking pictures from three-point vary. Watch her highlights right here:

Within the matter of months, Martin has gone from taking part in subsequent to Clark within the nationwide championship sport, to being a shock WNBA draft choose, to taking part in a significant function for the back-to-back champion Aces. It’s one of the vital outstanding storylines in basketball proper now, and it doesn’t appear to be any sort of fluke.

Martin’s professional profession began in unforgettable trend on the 2024 WNBA Draft. Martin was sitting on the draft as a fan when she heard her title known as within the second spherical by the Aces. Watch the video right here:

“I used to be right here to help Caitlin, however I hoped to listen to my title known as,” Martin stated. “All I wished was a chance, and I obtained it, and I’m actually excited.”

Simply making the crew was going to be an uphill battle for Martin, however she did it. She was virtually instantly an element within the rotation: Martin obtained 26 minutes off the bench in her very first sport, and has been a key contributor ever since. The Aces have extra top-end expertise than any crew within the league, however meaning their bench is skinny. A ready-made contributor and high-feel participant like Martin has been a present for the crew, and she or he continues to profit from her alternative.

By means of eight video games, Martin is taking pictures 39.1 % from three-point vary whereas taking part in 21.1 minutes per night time. Her taking pictures and her protection has been key to complementing Las Vegas superstars A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum.

The Aces have been hazing Martin all season by … showering her with love? It looks as if everybody loves the rookie.

There have additionally been Hi there Kitty backpacks and the crew bus attempting to go away her behind. Everybody concerned seems to be having a good time, and that’s what occurs whenever you win as usually because the Aces and Kate Martin have during the last two seasons.

Martin thought her time within the highlight can be over as soon as she left Iowa and Clark behind. As an alternative, she’s taking part in large minutes for a WNBA powerhouse going for a three-peat. What a pleasant season for everybody concerned.