Clark said she “couldn’t be happier” for her close friend and former Iowa teammate

Kate Martin, a former player for the Iowa women’s basketball team, journeyed to Brooklyn, New York on Monday evening to show her support for her former teammate, Caitlin Clark, who was chosen as the top pick in the WNBA Draft. However, much to her surprise, 17 picks later, Martin found herself unexpectedly selected, realizing her lifelong aspiration.
“There are a lot of emotions right now,” Martin, 23, said after getting drafted No. 18 overall by the Las Vegas Aces, according to The Associated Press.

“I’m really happy to be here. I was here to support Caitlin, but I was hoping to hear my name called. All I wanted was an opportunity and I got it. I’m really excited.”

Caitlin Clark greets Kate Martin after the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 15, 2024 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.

Clark, 22, congratulated Martin on social media afterwards. “KATE. MARTIN. LFGGGGG,” Clark wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) alongside a sunglasses emoji and a pair of white hearts.

On her Instagram Stories, Clark shared a selfie of the her and Martin together. “Couldn’t be happier for you,” Clark wrote alongside another heart emoji.

Iowa guard Kate Martin (20) and Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) as seen after a women’s college basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 03, 2024, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA.
In the lead-up to the draft, the pair enjoyed an eventful weekend, with the NCAA Division I’s highest scorer inviting Martin and their teammate, Gabbie Marshall, to join her onstage during the closing credits of Saturday Night Live. Earlier that night, Clark had made an appearance on the “Weekend Update” segment alongside Michael Che.

During their time at Iowa, Clark and Martin were instrumental in the team’s unprecedented success. They propelled the Iowa women’s basketball squad to its most triumphant seasons in school history. The team’s consecutive appearances in the Final Four and the national championship game in 2023 and 2024 marked a pinnacle, amassing an impressive 65 victories over the past two years.

While Clark garnered attention for her record-breaking performances, Martin provided valuable support, contributing an average of 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

In a memorable moment captured during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship on April 7, 2024, Kate Martin #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes can be seen seeking a pass against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 6-foot guard dreamt about playing basketball for Iowa since she was a kid, her mother, Jill Martin, once told The Quad-City Times. “She’s had a ball in her hands since she could play,” she said.

And now she’ll continue her career as a professional in the WNBA.

Martin was emotional when the Aces — the defending WNBA Champions — called her name during Monday night’s draft. She immediately turned to hug Marshall and then her former Hawkeyes assistant coach, Jan Jensen.

“I’m super excited for the opportunity,” Martin said, per the AP. “I have a really good work ethic.”