Kate Martin will not be taking her journey with the Aces with no consideration

BROOKLYN — Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin was all smiles as she addressed a swath of reporters earlier than Recreation 2 between the Liberty and Aces. Maybe she’s simply used to the eye. Martin — who has but to play a single minute within the WNBA postseason — is often stopped for photographs by followers and fields questions from the media much more usually than the typical WNBA participant who isn’t even of their workforce’s playoff rotation.

That’s as a result of Martin is not your common rookie. The six-foot guard has offered the 4th-most jerseys of any WNBA participant this season, and when she checks into the sport, no matter which enviornment she is at, there’s an plain crowd pop.

Martin famously didn’t know that she was going to be drafted when she got here to WNBA Draft Night time to help her Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark, the shoe-in for the No. 1 decide. However subsequent factor she knew, it was her that was on the stage with commissioner Cathy Engelbert, drafted by the Aces because the No. 18 total decide. That second got here simply two weeks after the completion of an illustrious basketball profession at Iowa, .

Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures

In her first WNBA season, she appeared in 34 video games, averaging 2.6 factors in 11.5 minutes an evening. All yr, Martin’s teammates praised her all-around play and impression on profitable, whereas she adjusted to life as an expert.

“Kate Martin is superior. Kate Martin picks up issues so shortly, she’s an incredible sponge,” Plum stated in Might. “I feel Becky nicknamed her Kate ‘Cash’ Martin. I feel that’s gonna stick.”

“And once I say ‘cash,’ it’s not nearly scoring and stuff, she’s simply in the precise place on the proper time. She simply makes individuals higher. And that’s what Becky values, that’s what our teaching workers values and that’s why she’s gonna be an ideal asset to our workforce.”

At first of the yr, Martin’s on-court function was consequential. With Chelsea Grey lacking the primary 12 video games of the common season — nonetheless recovering from a foot damage she suffered within the finals — it was the Iowa alum who stepped into an sudden function within the rotation, offering defensive versatility and showcasing an unwavering knack for making the precise play.

A month after she helped lead Iowa to the NCAA championship sport — averaging 13.1 factors, 6.8 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists on 50.7% capturing in her remaining collegiate season — Martin was not simply requested to change into an expert basketball participant, however requested to take action for one of many highest-scrutinized groups within the W whereas defending their second title.

​​”This whole yr has been a whirlwind,” Martin stated, standing courtside at Barclay’s Heart. “I really feel tremendous grateful to be right here proper now.”

With Grey again within the rotation, Martin’s minutes declined within the second half of the season, Nonetheless, she’s remained a important member of the Aces locker room, taking all of it in, albeit in a unique function than she was used to Iowa.

“I really really feel like I’ve taken somewhat bit extra of a backseat this yr when it comes to being a vocal chief,” Martin stated. “I discovered my area of interest, and a manner of having the ability to nonetheless hype up my teammates and inform them individually if I see issues, or inform them in the event that they did one thing rather well, like, ‘oh my god, that was wonderful.’”

Within the meantime, she’s studying from gamers who’ve much more expertise, like 37-year-old Alysha Clark and 31-year-old Chelsea Grey. Six of her Aces teammates competed on the Paris Olympics. Most of them have received a number of WNBA championships.

So, whereas at Iowa, Martin usually served as one of many louder voices within the locker room, in Las Vegas, she’s opted to not deal with the total group practically as a lot.

“I’m a rookie,” Martin stated with a smile. “I actually don’t know a complete lot — that is my first yr. I’m making an attempt to study and be a sponge, and absorb as a lot data as I probably can. And, I feel I’ll have the ability to develop into that function in my future years.”

Martin’s Aces are on the brink of elimination, dealing with an 0-2 gap in opposition to the New York Liberty within the WNBA semifinals. However, the expertise of competing for a WNBA title is one which Martin is absorbing.

“I’ve by no means competed for a WNBA championship earlier than, however I’ve been blessed to compete for championships earlier than at each degree that I’ve performed at, and so it’s fairly cool that I’m attending to be part of one other playoff competition,” Martin stated.

There’s been no scarcity of outdoor noise across the workforce — and across the league — this season. However, it’s not one thing that’s significantly new to Martin, whose school workforce offered out arenas and broke viewership data regularly. That’s helped make the transition simpler, each for her and for Clark, who’s actually dealt together with her justifiable share of noise throughout her rookie season in Indiana.

“Our consideration and the next at Iowa the final couple of years was at a pinnacle — most seen sport(s), we have been part of numerous these,” Martin stated, including that well-known individuals steadily attended Hawkeyes video games.

“I nonetheless am in awe at any time when I see Steph Curry sitting courtside, or LeBron James, or anyone sitting courtside — like, that’s tremendous cool,” Martin stated. “However, I’m glad that I obtained to expertise that whereas I used to be in school as effectively, as a result of it’s been a easy transition. Realizing the eye that we obtained at Iowa and the way to deal with that, and we’ve talked by that, and it’s a studying expertise, a studying curve.”

So, what’s subsequent for Kate Martin?

First, it’s Recreation 3 in Las Vegas on Friday evening, by which the Aces will struggle to remain alive of their semifinals collection in opposition to the New York Liberty. Then, comes an offseason of basketball that Martin has saved considerably imprecise — in August, she advised reporters: “I’ve plans. I’m simply not sharing them but.”

For a very long time, Martin’s hope was to ultimately change into a basketball coach, however now she’s not even sure if that’s what she needs.

A profitable rookie season within the WNBA has proven her that one other future is feasible.

“I simply need to play basketball for so long as I probably can.”