Kate Martin’s pro career has been right on the money
Golden State guard Kate Martin notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Laces in Unrivaled in the team’s season-opener.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Unrivaled
By W.G. RAMIREZ
At some point, during what's been a busy offseason, Kate “Money” Martin had to remind herself of something relevant to the progress she's made as a professional basketball player.
"I keep forgetting that I was in college less than a year ago," Martin said during a recent Zoom session from Miami, where she's playing for the Laces in the inaugural Unrivaled campaign. "So it's definitely been a whirlwind, a dream come true."
A dream, because the past nine months have been nothing she expected, because in her words, she "didn't really have too many expectations."
She attended the 2024 WNBA Draft mainly to support her former Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark, but ended up being drafted 18th overall by the then-two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces. She quickly became even more popular than she was in Iowa City, with an infectious personality that was quickly embraced by the Aces, and a crowd favorite whenever she'd enter a game. She played more than she expected, made the most of her opportunity and even created highlight reels while sharing the court with some of the best players in the league.
Some of her press conference availabilities and social media videos even went viral, like the first time she and Clark were reunited when the Indiana Fever visited Las Vegas for the first time last season.
"I've been really lucky to have so many amazing opportunities," Martin said. "A Final Four, then getting drafted to the Aces. I got to learn from phenomenal vets, a great coaching staff. And then, this league … (with) the best players in the world."
PHOTO: Courtesy of Unrivaled
This league, that being Unrivaled, where she sealed the Laces' season opener when she cut for a layup underneath the basket with the game-winning bucket and notched her first career double-double by finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
"This 3-on-3 league ... I've been working on trying to showcase that I can score the ball, that I can defend 1-on-1, things like that," Martin said. "This is a perfect time for this league. And I'm just really excited for this. And my main focus is right here, right now with Unrivaled, and then I will shift focus to WNBA."
When that time comes, she'll change zip codes from Southern Nevada to the Bay Area, as she was taken by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft. Martin, who was left unprotected by the Aces after she averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists in her rookie season, joins former Las Vegas assistant and new Golden State coach Natalie Nakase.
"Coach Nakase is someone you’re going to want to run through a brick wall for," Martin said after the draft. "She’s a truth-teller and she’s going to be honest with you, but she matches that with love and support, 100 percent. Those are the kinds of coaches you want to give your all for.
"I’m super grateful we got to build a relationship in Las Vegas and we get to continue that in San Francisco."
Truth is, Martin is the type of player who will likely run through a brick wall for anyone giving her a chance. It's how she made the Aces’ roster, how she grew bonds with superstar veterans like A'ja Wilson and Alysha Clark, and how she's gotten along with the 35 other players competing for Unrivaled in Miami.
"She's very mature," Stephanie Dolson said. "We got lucky, in general, that our team is an older team, but then that youngest guy is Kate. Because she is definitely a workhorse. She comes in (and) gets her work done. She shoots longer than most ... she's happy to learn, asks questions. Just overall, like a really easy teammate to have, and not a rookie anymore, but an easy young guy to have."
Martin said her childhood passion and love for the game has re-emerged while honing in on her skills in the fast-paced 3-on-3 league.
"Can't really fall down on a layup or anything or a missed shot, (it results in) a layup," Martin said. "You get exposed pretty quick on the defensive end if you're even one or two steps behind. But it's just very fun. I think this is just a really good opportunity for me to play against some of the best players in the world, another challenge for myself, just like the last WNBA season was, and so I'm really excited for that.
"I just feel really grateful to be where I'm at, and not many people get this opportunity. So I never try to let anything slip from my fingers, and I just try to make the most of it."
