LAS VEGAS — Fans cheer for Kate Martin when she enters WNBA games.

Not just at the ones her Las Vegas Aces play before routinely sold-out crowds at home. Everywhere in the league.

“Even Los Angeles,” said Aces assistant director of media relations Caroline Williams, “and she’d never been there before.”

“You can’t really account for it,” Martin said after the Aces’ Tuesday morning shoot-around in T-Mobile Arena.

But you can. Martin got a lot of television exposure the last couple years playing for the Iowa women’s basketball team alongside best friend Caitlin Clark, whose Indiana Fever were to face the Aces here Tuesday night. Her upbeat personality and determined, polished play endeared her to Hawkeye fans and basketball fans alike.

Martin averages 3.9 points and 15.8 minutes per game. Yet, a week ago she ranked 12th in fan-voting for the WNBA All-Star Game. Her reaction at the time:

“Oh my gosh, I’m embarrassed.

“No, it’s cool. I feel real grateful for the fan support that I have. … I really appreciate it, but there are a lot of deserving people to get those votes.”

Her team entered Tuesday’s game with a 10-6 record with a 4-game winning streak that coincided with the return to action of guard Chelsea Gray, one of four 2024 U.S. Olympians in the Aces’ starting five. Martin started a game during Gray’s absence, and had 12 points and 7 rebounds when the Aces played Indiana the first time this season, May 25.

Las Vegas has won the last two WNBA championships. To the surprise of many, second-round draft pick Martin came in and quickly worked her way into the team’s rotation.

Iowa’s season ended April 7 in the national-title game. Three months later, Martin has crisscrossed America with her new team and made Las Vegas her summer home.

“It’s been hectic, a whirlwind, but it’s been my dream,” she said. “So I’ve been really happy and having a lot of fun.”

It’s not easy, this WNBA life. It’s 40 games in a compressed summer schedule, and that’s before the playoffs that inevitably will feature the Aces.

“It’s bigger, faster. Stronger,” Martin said. “This is the best league in the world obviously. And so that’s obviously going to be an adjustment.

“I’m still getting used to the system and the plays and everything, and that’s not always easy.”

Shooting has been no problem. Martin still loves the corner 3-pointers, and has made 14 of 37 threes for a respectable 37.8 percent. Defense is the hardest thing, she said in a Monday Zoom.

“Having to guard really quick guards, fight over ball-screens,” Martin said. “Last year at Iowa, I was playing more of a post position. People probably don’t know that. I had to play that position for my team last year.”

The Aces are immensely popular here. All of their season-ticket memberships sold out before the season. The team normally plays its home games in the Michelob ULTRA Arena, a 10,400-seat venue it almost always sells out.

Martin is one of the Aces players featured on a billboard at that venue.

She was on one of the wildest women’s college basketball rides ever, and then stepped into a mini-dynasty in the pros and immediately made a place for herself without getting overwhelmed.

“The Aces have a great fan base,” Martin said. “They’ve accepted me and welcomed me with open arms and I feel really grateful for that.

“I just feel super-grateful to wake up and live out my dream every day. I enjoy coming to work and I enjoy coming to practice every single day.”

But it’s not like Martin won’t welcome the monthlong break that will come when the WNBA goes on hiatus during the Olympics. It’s been a long time since Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium exhibition game against DePaul last Oct. 15, and there has been little time off for Martin since.

“A mental break will be needed for sure,” she said.

It won’t all be rest and relaxation at her family’s home in Edwardsville, Ill., though.

“I have to finish moving out of my Iowa City apartment,” Martin said, “which really sucks.”

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