The end is the start. That is what the Iowa Hawkeyes have been experiencing after the NCAA 2023 season ended. They reached the Championship Finale only to lose to the South Carolina Gamecocks. If that wasn’t enough the Hawkeyes had their head coach Lisa Bluder retiring and their formidable players Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin progressing to the WNBA. On Thursday, an Iowa star came forward to share her take on being in New York to support Clark and Martin.
Jada Gyamfi was present during a media interaction when she reflected on missing Clark and Martin while reminiscing her time at the WNBA 2024 draft. “I felt really lucky and grateful that I was there. And that I was able to make those friendships and they’re really freaking cool people. So I’m like ‘Wow, I picked the right, the right girls to be friends with.’ But it was also really cool just to be there and support them,” Gyamfi said, via Iowa’s News Now.
“Support Caitlin through all the craziness of being you know the best player out of college basketball and then to be there for Kate when her dream came true to make it to the WNBA. I was like fully in tears which probably doesn’t surprise a lot of people but yeah I was just really grateful to be there and I’m proud of them every day,” Gyamfi added.
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Notably, Gyamfi had featured alongside Clark, Martin, and Gabbie Marshall for an episode of Saturday Night Live in April. Gymafi was present on the draft day in New York cheering both the stars – Clark and Martin – from her team. She along with Clark, Marshall, and Martin also went out to party in a nightclub after the ceremony was done. There was a lot of hype around Clark since she had surpassed the legendary Pete Maravich and ended her NCAA career as the leading all-time scorer in both men’s and women’s basketball.
Meanwhile, Clark was drafted the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever whereas Martin was, surprisingly for everyone, drafted at the eighteenth spot by the Las Vegas Aces. The two have been a wonderful WNBA season. While Clark is a contender for the Rookie of the Year award, Martin has helped the Aces during crucial moments and been an invaluable support in the limited role she has got. Gyamfi also reflected on their friendship.
Jada Gyamfi shares her take on friendship with Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin
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Gyamfi has played for the Hawkeyes for two seasons. As for Martin, she was with Iowa from 2019-2024 and Clark was from 2020-24. Hence, the trio got a lot of time to spend together in the locker room, at practices, on the court, and also away from professional life. Hence, they have formed a close bond with each other and Gyamfi just gave an example of that.
Gyamfi revealed that she texts Clark and Martin all the time and informs them about the day-to-day happenings in her life. “I text them basically any little thing that happens like I go to the grocery store I’ll text them,” Gyamfi added.
Perhaps, it is this unique bond that has helped the trio develop their game and support each other. As for Gyamfi, she will be looking to make it to the W just like her friends whenever she decides to declare for the draft.
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Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.