.jpg) Martin withIowa in 2024 | |
| No. 20 – Golden State Valkyries | |
|---|---|
| Position | Guard |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2000-06-05)June 5, 2000 (age 25) Edwardsville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Edwardsville (Edwardsville, Illinois) |
| College | Iowa (2019–2024) |
| WNBA draft | 2024: 2nd round, 18th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Las Vegas Aces |
| Playing career | 2024–present |
| Career history | |
| 2024 | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2025 | Laces BC |
| 2025–present | Golden State Valkyries |
| 2026–present | Breeze BC |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Stats at WNBA.com | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Kate Marie Martin (born June 5, 2000) is an American professionalbasketball player for theGolden State Valkyries of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for theBreeze ofUnrivaled. She playedcollege basketball for theIowa Hawkeyes. She was selected in the second round (18th overall) by theLas Vegas Aces in the2024 WNBA draft.
Martin attendedEdwardsville High School in her hometown ofEdwardsville, Illinois. Martin captained theIowa Hawkeyes for four seasons, playing alongside two-time national player of the year,Caitlin Clark. She helped lead Iowa to their firstnational championship game as a senior in 2023 and helpedIowa return to thenational title game the following year.
Martin was born on June 5, 2000, and grew up inGranite City andEdwardsville, Illinois.[1] She is the youngest of three children born to teachers Matt and Jill Martin.[2][3] Martin started playing basketball at age five, participating in local recreational leagues and playing pickup at theYMCA.[4] Starting in elementary school, she frequented basketball camps atUniversity of Iowa every summer[5][6] and slept with an Iowa women's basketball poster above her childhood bed.[7] Martin also played boys'tackle football in elementary school[8] and later took upvolleyball.[2] Her dad was one of her first coaches, coaching her and her siblings' basketball teams up until the seventh grade, as well as Martin's football team.[4] In middle school, Martin began attending "Junior Hawk" andIowa basketball camps every summer as a participant.[5] In fourth grade, Martin joined her localAAU basketball program and went on to play for the Blue Star St. Louis (now known as theNapheesa Collier Elite) throughout high school.[9][10] In seventh grade, Martin led her basketball team to the 2012Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Class 4A state championship game, losing by three points in the final.[11] That same year, she helped her middle school volleyball team win the 2013 seventh-grade IESA Class 4A state championship in straight sets.[12][13] The following year, Martin's basketball team claimed victory at the 2013 eighth grade IESA Class 4A state championship, finishing with an undefeated 28–0 season,[14][15] while her volleyball team placed third at the 2014 eighth grade state championship.[16][17]
Martin played four years ofvarsity basketball forEdwardsville High School inEdwardsville, Illinois, under head coach Lori Blade.[3] During her freshman season, Edwardsville went 30–1, winning theSouthwestern Conference (SWC), regional, and sectional titles before falling to the eventual state champions,Benet Academy (and Martin's futureIowa teammateKathleen Doyle), in the Class 4A state quarterfinals.[18][19] As a freshman, Martin did not see many minutes on the court, coming off the bench and averaging 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[18] Her game continued to mature, and she made herself into a guaranteedstarter for her remaining three years atEdwardsville.[20] During hersophomore year in postseason play, Martin helped Edwardsville defeatRock Island High School in the sectional championship by holding their freshman guard,Brea Beal, pointless in the first quarter.[21] Despite Martin's 13-point contribution in the game, her team suffered a second straight state quarterfinal loss toBenet Academy, the eventual back-to-back 2016 state champions.[22][23] Martin earned Class 4A All-State fourth-team accolades from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA).[24][25]
As ajunior, Martin surpassed 1,000 career points[26] and averaged 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 steals per game.[27] The number-one-rankedEdwardsville team[28] finished their 2016–17 season with a 32–1 record,[27][29] reaching the Class 4A state championship final where they were upset byGeneva Community High School, losing 41–40 on a last-second shot.[30][31] Martin was named to the IBCA All-State Class 4A second-team and was selected as anAssociated Press (AP) All-State honorable mention at the conclusion of her junior season.[32][33] As asenior, Martin averaged 16.2 points, 5.9rebounds, 2.9assists, and 2.1steals per game[34][35] with 63.9 field-goal, 50.9 three-point, and 80 free-throw percentages.[36] As team captain,[9] Martin led the number-one-ranked Edwardsville team[36] to their fourth consecutive SWC, regional, and sectional titles, and their second consecutive super-sectional championship title.[29][35] Her team finished the 2017–18 season with a 30–2 record[3] and reached their second consecutive Class 4A semifinal, ultimately finishing fourth in postseason tournament play.[20] At the end of her senior year, Martin's class finished with an overall record of 122–6, going undefeated at home all four years.[12] Martin led her team with the most points,rebounds, andassists during her senior season[9] and ended her high school basketball career with the fourth-most points (1,518) inEdwardsville High School history.[20][36] She received the 5th most votes forIllinois Miss Basketball 2018 award (losing the honor toBeal)[37] and was named to both theAssociated Press and the IBCA Class 4A All-State first-teams as a senior.[38][39][40]
Martin also played four years of varsity volleyball as anoutside hitter atEdwardsville.[29] She helped lead her team to 108 wins, two SWC titles, two regional championships, and a sectional championship.[9][41] She finished her high school volleyball career with a new school record for careerblock assists (194) and was also named to the All-SWC first-team her senior year.[12]
Martin was first recruited byNCAA Division I basketball programs during her sophomore year of high school, receiving an offer fromBradley.[1] During her high school career, she continued to receive offers fromDivision I programs includingDePaul,Illinois,St. Louis, andWisconsin, among others.[42][43] During her junior year, she was recruited byIowa[a] as a 2–3 (shooting guard/small forward).[42][46] On her car ride home from her official weekend visit atIowa, Martin called the coaching staff and verbally committed to theHawkeyes.[1][43] She announced this verbal commitment onTwitter in May 2017.[6] Martin formally signed her letter of intent in November 2017 and received a fullathletic scholarship from the university.[27] By the end of her high school career, Martin was considered a three-starrecruit with a scouting grade of 90 byESPN.[5][34] In interviews, Martin stated playing forIowa was "always the goal" and that committing to play there was "a no-brainer".[43] In sixth grade for an English assignment, she wrote a letter for her future self to be opened after graduating high school in which she wrote, "Hi Kate. When you're reading this, I hope you have committed to play basketball at theUniversity of Iowa."[4]
In June 2018, it was announced that Martin had torn her leftanterior cruciate ligament (ACL) andlateral meniscus in a collision during practice for the IBCA high school all-star game and would miss the entire2018–19 season.[36][47] She received an additional year of eligibility afterredshirting.[35][47] Iowa finished theirseason with a 29–7 record, won the2019 Big Ten tournament title,[48] and advanced to the Elite Eight in theNCAA tournament (losing to the eventual national champs,Baylor, 85–53).[49]
On November 7, 2019, Martin made her collegiate debut in a 85–53 win overFlorida Atlantic.[50] From the bench, she played in 24 games (averaging 8.1 minutes per game).[7] TheHawkeyes ended the year with a 23–7 record, an undefeated record onhome court, and a third-place finish in the regular season in theBig Ten Conference.[51] On March 12, 2020, theNCAA canceled the2020 women's basketball tournament due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, effectively ending the2019–20 season.[52]
With the graduation of three of Iowa's2019–20 starters, Martin moved into Iowa's starting line-up and started all 30 games alongside incoming freshmanCaitlin Clark.[2][53] She was also named team captain for the 2020–21 season.[54] During the January 3 game againstIllinois, Martin broke her nose after being hit in the face by a basketball and wore a protective transparent plastic mask for six weeks.[44][55] She broke her nose again in early February after a practice squad player "threw a beautiful bullet pass right to [her] face",[56] extending her mask use a few additional weeks.[44][57] In her first game back without her mask, Martin posted her first careerdouble-double for Iowa with a career-best 19 points (going 5-for-5 onthree-pointers) with 11assists and fiverebounds[58] in a decisive 96–78 win overPenn State on February 18.[59][60] At the end of the regular season, Martin averaged 30.7 minutes, 7.0 points, and 4.3 rebounds per game with a season total of 110 assists and 34 steals.[54] Martin helped Iowa reach theBig Ten tournament championship game where they ultimately fell toMaryland in an 104–84 loss.[61] In the first round of the2021 NCAA tournament, Martin got off to a quick start, registering 8 points in the first six minutes inIowa's 87–72 win overCentral Michigan.[62] Iowa went on to face number-one-seededUConn in the Sweet Sixteen, losing to the Huskies 92–72.[63][64] Martin was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team[65][66] and also was selected asIowa's women's basketball honoree for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and won the Iowa's 2021 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, alongsideMekhi Sargent.[67]
Entering herjunior season, Martin again was named team captain[54] and started all 32 games for Iowa alongside Clark, averaging 30 minutes per game.[68] After helping Iowa earn the Big Ten regular season championship title (shared withOhio State),[69] Martin put on a commanding performance in the2022 Big Ten tournament, averaging 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game in the tournament.[44][70] On March 4, 2022, in the quarterfinal match-up, she recorded 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds in Iowa's 71–59 win overNorthwestern.[71] Martin grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds with eight points and five assists in the semifinal win overNebraska on March 5.[72] Iowa claimed the Big Ten tournament title by defeatingIndiana 74–67.[73][74] With this title win, Iowa automatically qualified for the2022 NCAA tournament and was named the number two seed for the Greensboro Region.[70][74][75] Her team wasupset by 10th-seedCreighton in the second round of theNCAA tournament in a 64–62 loss.[76] As a redshirt junior, she averaged 7.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.[68] At the end of the academic year, she was selected as Iowa's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree for women's basketball for the second consecutive year,[77] earned Academic All-Big Ten honors,[78][79] was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (for maintaining 4.0 GPA during the academic term),[80][81] and was named to theDean's List.[78][82]
Martin continued her tenure as team captain and started all 38 games for the Hawkeyes beside Clark for thethird consecutive season.[68] During a preseason practice in early November, Martin was elbowed in the face by a practice squad player and broke her nose for the third time in her college career.[83] In the November 27 game againstUConn, Martin scored a career-high 20 points, going 6-for-6 on three-pointers.[84][85] On December 21, as her teammateCaitlin Clark, surpassed 2,000 career points, Martin registered a career-high 13 assists duringIowa's 92–54 win overDartmouth.[86] She recorded her 600th career point on January 7 in a win overMichigan.[87] A few weeks later on January 23, Iowa gave No. 2AP-rankedOhio State their first loss of the season, with Martin recording her first double-double of the season (13 points and 11 rebounds).[88] On February 26 in Iowa's final regular season game against No. 2Indiana (featured on ESPN'sCollege GameDay), Martin contributed 19 points and 4assists before Clark secured the victory with a game-winning three-pointbuzzer beater.[89][90]
In the semifinal matchup against No. 5Maryland in the2023 Big Ten tournament, Martin tallied 10 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, a near triple-double.[91] She helpedIowa win their second consecutiveBig Ten tournament title, handily defeatingOhio State 105–72 in the championship game.[92] For the2023 NCAA tournament, Iowa was named the top number two seed and competed in the Seattle regional.[93] In the Sweet Sixteen, Iowa defeated 6th seedColorado, 87–77,[94] with Martin knocking down 16 points, registering six rebounds, and leading Iowa with a personalplus/minus score of +17.[84][95] With their 97–83 win overLouisville in theElite Eight,Iowa reached their firstFinal Four since1993.[96] In theFinal Four matchup againstSouth Carolina, Martin contributed seven points, sevenrebounds, and twoassists[97] toIowa's 77–73 upset win over the defending champions and the shattering of theGamecocks' 42-game winning streak.[53][98] With this win,Iowa advanced to their first women's basketballchampionship game in program history.[99] Despite Martin's contribution of 13 points and six assists in the national championship game,[53][84]Iowa fell toLSU, 102–85.[100] The national championship game marked Martin's 100th career start for the Iowa Hawkeyes.[20]
As aredshirt senior, Martin averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game with a career-high field goal percentage of 46.7% and a 41.4% three-point percentage.[84][101] For the third consecutive year, she was selected as Iowa's Big TenSportsmanship Award honoree for women's basketball.[102]
In February 2023, Martin announced her return for a sixth and finalseason with Iowa,[103] taking advantage of both her redshirt year and theNCAA's COVID-19 eligibility extension, and to complete hermaster's degree.[104][105] In a press conference during the 2023–24 season,Caitlin Clark admitted to trying to persuade and convince Martin to return for a sixth year and went on to say, "I don't want to have to come back [and play at Iowa] if she's not here."[106] Martin continued her reign as team captain, her fourth consecutive year leading theHawkeyes.[107] On October 15, 2023, she played in theCrossover at Kinnick, a preseason charityexhibition game againstDePaul at the University of Iowa'sKinnick Stadium.[108] In the game Martin contributed 11 points, 8rebounds, and 8assists in Iowa's 94–72 win overDePaul.[109]Crossover at Kinnick set a new record attendance for women's basketball with 55,646 total attendees[110][111] and raised ~$250,000 for theUniversity of Iowa Children's Hospital.[112]
In the third game of the regular season, Martin surpassed 500 careerrebounds after grabbing eight rebounds againstNorthern Iowa.[113] On November 19, Martin posted a career-high 25 points (shooting 10-of-12 from the field) to help see Iowa to a 113–90 win overDrake.[114][115] Martin recorded her third career double-double againstKansas State on November 26 (11 points and 10 rebounds),[116] and in December 2023, she became the first player in Iowa women's basketball history with 900+ points, 500+ rebounds, 400+ assists, 120+ steals, and 60+ blocks.[117][118] In the snowstorm matchup againstIndiana on January 13, she posted another double-double (10 points with 12 rebounds) and surpassed 1,000 career points.[53][119] Martin collected her fifth and sixth career double-doubles in February: 15 points with 10 rebounds againstMaryland[120] and 16 points with a career-high 16 boards versusPenn State.[121] During the regular season, Martin scored over 15 points in fifteen games, another career-best.[122]
Martin led theHawkeyes to their third straightBig Ten tournament title.[123] In the title game againstNebraska, Martin pulled her team out of an 8-point deficit in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, sinking two three-pointers to force the game into overtime.[45] She drained another pair of three-pointers, resulting in a 94–89 victory over Nebraska in overtime.[124] During Big Ten tournament play, Martin became the third Hawkeye to garner 1,200+ points, 700+ rebounds, and 450+ assists.[125]
For the2024 NCAA tournament, the Hawkeyes were named a No. 1 seed (Iowa's first since1992) in the Albany 2 regional and were ranked as the tournament's 2nd overall seed.[126] In the first round,Iowa defeatedHoly Cross 91–65 with Martin collecting a double-double of 15 points and 14rebounds,[127] despite taking a hard hit and smacking her head against the hardwood in the first half.[128] In the second round and her final game onhome court, Martin contributed seven points and ten rebounds in a 64–54 defeat ofWest Virginia, putting Iowa through to the Sweet Sixteen.[45][129] Iowa continued to advance in the tournament and faced a rematch of their2023 national championship game againstLSU in the Elite Eight.[130] Martin contributed 21 points and six rebounds in the 94–87 victory over the defending champs,[131] punching Iowa's ticket to a second straight Final Four appearance and setting a program record of 33 wins in a single season.[132][133] In the final minutes of the third quarter of Iowa's Final Four meeting withUConn, Martin was elbowed in the face by forwardAaliyah Edwards and left the court with a bloody nose.[134][135] Martin returned in the fourth quarter unfazed, knocking down aturnaround jump shot and a drivinglayup in the final minutes to pull Iowa into atwo-possession lead.[136] Iowa bested UConn in a 71–69 win with Martin posting 11 points, eight rebounds, and two steals to seal Iowa's spot in thenational championship game for the second year in a row.[135][137] In the title game, the Iowa Hawkeyes faced the undefeated and No. 1 overall seedSouth Carolina Gamecocks, a rematch of their2023 tournament semifinal.[138] Martin scored 16 points and collected five rebounds in her final game playing for Iowa,[139] but the Hawkeyes ultimately suffered defeat to South Carolina in an 87–75 loss and were sent home as runners-up for the second consecutive year.[140][141]
In her graduate year, Martin averaged 13.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game with a career-high 50.7% field goal percentage.[142] Martin started 139 consecutive games with Caitlin Clark (the longest streak in Division I in the last 25 years)[143] and finished her career at Iowa with 1,299 points, 756 rebounds, and473 assists in 163 games.[7] In February 2024, Martin was named to the Ann Meyers DrysdaleUSBWA Women's National Player of the Year watchlist, ultimately losing the award to her teammate Caitlin Clark.[144][145] In March 2024, Martin earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from theconference's coaches and media.[146] She was named the Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree for Iowa women's basketball for the fourth consecutive year.[147][148] She was also selected for the 2023–24 Big Ten Winter Academic All-Conference team.[149] At theUniversity of Iowa Department of Athletics' end-of-year celebration, known as the "Golden Herkys", Martin was voted by her fellow student-athletes as the "Women's Hawkeye of the Year".[150]
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After completing her final season of eligibility with Iowa, Martin declared for the2024 WNBA draft.[7] Martin attended the ceremony inBrooklyn, New York, in support of her former Iowa teammate,Caitlin Clark, being selected as the first pick overall in the draft.[151][152] From the audience, Martin was selected in the second round as the eighteenth overall pick of the draft by theLas Vegas Aces.[152][153] On April 22, 2024, Martin was signed to the Aces' rookie scale contract.[154]
In April 2024, days after being drafted by the Aces and prior to the start of their training camp, Martin attendedKelsey Plum's second annual Dawg Class, a three-day camp to help top college guards transition from collegiate to professional basketball.[155]
On May 13, 2024, Martin was named to the2024 Las Vegas Aces roster.[156][157][158] This reunited her with her former Hawkeye teammate,Megan Gustafson for the first time since 2019. Martin made her WNBA regular season debut on May 18, 2024, in a 89–82 home win against theLos Angeles Sparks, registering 3 points, three assists, five rebounds, and a block in 26 minutes played.[159] On June 9, 2024, Martin made her first career start for the Aces against the Los Angeles Sparks,[160] and contributed 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the Aces' 96-92 loss, going 5-for-7 on field goal attempts and 3-for-3 on three-pointers.[161] Martin's playtime raised during a stretch where many Aces players struggled with injuries, with her ultimately appearing in 34 games, and later three minutes during a playoff game. In spite of being a role player, Martin's jersey was one of the best-selling in the WNBA.[162]
On December 6, 2024, Martin was selected as theGolden State Valkyries' pick from the Las Vegas Aces' 2024 roster in the WNBA'sexpansion draft.[163] She recorded her WNBA career-high 21 points, 14 of which in the final quarter, in the team's narrow three-point loss to theNew York Liberty on June 25 2025.[164]
On October 28, 2024, it was announced that Martin would appear and play in theinaugural 2025 season ofUnrivaled, the women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded byNapheesa Collier andBreanna Stewart.[165] She played for theLaces in the2025 Unrivaled season.
On November 5, 2025, it was announced that Martin had been drafted byBreeze BC for the2026 Unrivaled season.[166]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage |
| FT% | Free throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game |
| TO | Turnovers per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high | ° | League leader | ‡ | WNBA record |
Stats current through end of 2025 season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Las Vegas | 34 | 2 | 11.5 | .307 | .355 | .917 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| 2025 | Golden State | 42 | 4 | 16.4 | .319 | .321 | .811 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 4.6 |
| Career | 2 years, 2 teams | 76 | 6 | 14.2 | .319 | .321 | .811 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 4.6 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Las Vegas | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 | Golden State | 2 | 0 | 16.0 | .400 | .375 | .714 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 8.0 |
| Career | 2 years, 2 teams | 3 | 0 | 11.7 | .400 | .375 | .714 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.3 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Iowa | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||
| 2019–20 | Iowa | 24 | 0 | 8.1 | .328 | .182 | .750 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 2.4 |
| 2020–21 | Iowa | 30 | 30 | 30.7 | .431 | .354 | .844 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 7.0 |
| 2021–22 | Iowa | 32 | 32 | 30.1 | .453 | .286 | .740 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 7.2 |
| 2022–23 | Iowa | 38 | 38 | 28.3 | .467 | .414 | .833 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 7.7 |
| 2023–24 | Iowa | 39 | 39 | 28.8 | .507 | .370 | .864 | 6.8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 13.1 |
| Career | 163 | 139 | 26.3 | .464 | .355 | .824 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 8.0 | |
Martin's father, Matt Martin, playedcollege football atWestern Illinois University.[170] She has an older sister, Kennedy, who played basketball atTruman State, and an older brother, Trevor.[170] Martin's maternal aunt, Julie Fitzpatrick, is married toIowa head coach,Jan Jensen.[6][b] Many of Martin's aunts and uncles are former college athletes: Julie Fitzpatrick played basketball forDrake (scoring over 1700 career points), Tom Fitzpatrick played football for Drake, Matt Fitzpatrick played basketball forSt. Ambrose, and Mitch Martin played football for Western Illinois.[1][4][173] From 2021 to 2024, Martin's maternal cousin, Laney Fitzpatrick, ran cross country and middle distance at theUniversity of Iowa and interned for Iowa women's basketball operations as an undergraduate.[174][175]
In May 2022, Martin completed her bachelor's degree insports and recreation management at theUniversity of Iowa.[101] With the completion of her undergraduate degree, Martin began working on aMaster of Arts degree in sports and recreation management at Iowa.[46][103] In interviews before she was drafted by theLas Vegas Aces, Martin expressed her aspirations to coach basketball at the collegiate level.[46][176] While in college at Iowa, she received numerous endorsements for her coaching aspiration and potential from Iowa teammates,Caitlin Clark andMonika Czinano, and was often called the "coach in the locker room".[44][177] Martin also received high praise fromLisa Bluder,[45][117] her head coach while playing at Iowa: "She's going to be an unbelievable coach. She is a tremendous leader of young women. She is able to hold people accountable...and she doesn't back down. She has the respect of everybody in the room."[7] In February 2024, Martin was nominated by her Iowa coaches and was later named to theWomen's Basketball Coaches Association's 2024 "So You Want To Be A Coach" class.[117][178]
Martin grew up and went to high school withNFLdefensive end,A. J. Epenesa.[3][179] Martin's dad was Epenesa's football and track and field coach during his time atEdwardsville High School.[c][181][182]
During her time at Iowa, Martin signedname, image, and likeness (NIL) deals with Iowa andQuad Cities businesses, including Estela's Fresh Mex, Mel Foster Co., RAYGUN, and Zimmerman Honda.[4][183][184]
Martin is represented by Excel Sports Management, after signing with the agency in May 2024.[185] In September 2024, Martin announced her partnership withAmerican Eagle Outfitters on her social media platforms.[186] In October 2024, Martin appeared in aTikTok ad campaign for TOGETHXR andAflac alongside Aces' teammate,Sydney Colson.[187][188] Martin partnered withAthleta and their "Power of She Collective" in January 2025, joining fellow female athletesSimone Biles,Katie Ledecky, andLexie Hull.[189] In February 2025, Martin joinedSamsung'sTeam Galaxy social campaign.[190]
Before the start of the2021-22 college basketball season, Iowa head coach,Lisa Bluder, praised Martin's leadership as team captain and called her "The Glue" of their team.[54][70] The nickname stuck with Iowa fans,[84] and Bluder also continued to refer to Martin as "The Glue" throughout her collegiate career.[2] In a 2022 post-game press conference Bluder said of Martin, "Kate's always been the glue—and people overlook Kate. She holds this team together. She's our captain, she's our leader, she's somebody we look to."[191]
Martin appeared in the closing credits on theApril 13, 2024 episode ofSaturday Night Live, alongside her Iowa teammates,Caitlin Clark,Gabbie Marshall, and Jada Gyamfi, after Clark made a surprise appearance onWeekend Update.[152][192]
After the Aces' May 31, 2024 game against theAtlanta Dream, Martin was asked and suggested that herfans be called "The Martinis".[193][194] The following month, RAYGUN, an Iowa-based T-shirt company, and Martin released a "Martini" fan club T-shirt.[195]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The B1G Trip | Herself | 3 episodes[196][197] |
| 2024 | Full Court Press | 4-partdocuseries[198] |
"One of the grey squad guys threw a beautiful bullet pass right to my face, and I ate it," Martin said. "So, the mask will continue."
Epenesa is quick to point out that Kate Martin, a guard on the Iowa women's basketball team, is from Edwardsville and also grew up Hawkeye.
Media related toKate Martin at Wikimedia Commons