Kate Martin is not taking her journey with the Aces

 

 

BROOKLYN — Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin was all smiles as she addressed a swath of reporters before Game 2 between the Liberty and Aces. Perhaps she’s just used to the attention. Martin — who has yet to play a single minute in the WNBA postseason — is regularly stopped for photos by fans and fields questions from the media far more often than the average WNBA player who isn’t even in their team’s playoff rotation.

That’s because Martin is not your average rookie. The six-foot guard has sold the 4th-most jerseys of any WNBA player this season, and when she checks into the game, regardless of which arena she is at, there’s an undeniable crowd pop.

Martin famously didn’t know that she was going to be drafted when she came to WNBA Draft Night to support her Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark, the shoe-in for the No. 1 pick. But next thing she knew, it was her that was on the stage with commissioner Cathy Engelbert, drafted by the Aces as the No. 18 overall pick. That moment came just two weeks after the completion of an illustrious basketball career at Iowa, .

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

In her first WNBA season, she appeared in 34 games, averaging 2.6 points in 11.5 minutes a night. All year, Martin’s teammates praised her all-around play and impact on winning, while she adjusted to life as a professional.

“Kate Martin is awesome. Kate Martin picks up things so quickly, she’s an amazing sponge,” Plum said in May. “I think Becky nicknamed her Kate ‘Money’ Martin. I think that’s gonna stick.”

“And when I say ‘money,’ it’s not just about scoring and stuff, she’s just in the right place at the right time. She just makes people better. And that’s what Becky values, that’s what our coaching staff values and that’s why she’s gonna be a great asset to our team.”

At the beginning of the year, Martin’s on-court role was consequential. With Chelsea Gray missing the first 12 games of the regular season — still recovering from a foot injury she suffered in the finals — it was the Iowa alum who stepped into an unexpected role in the rotation, providing defensive versatility and showcasing an unwavering knack for making the right play.