Kate Martin, Former Caitlin Clark Teammate, Sets WNBA Ablaze on Sunday

Kate Martin, Former Caitlin Clark Teammate, Sets WNBA Ablaze on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

WNBA viewership has dipped in the days since star Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark went down with a quad injury that’s likely to sideline her for multiple weeks, but the quality of play across the league has maintained the earned moniker of primetime viewing even in her absence.

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The most recent example comes in the form Kate Martin, of one of Clark’s old teammates at the University of Iowa.

The Las Vegas Aces made Martin a surprise second-round pick in the 2024 draft. During her rookie year with the franchise, Martin averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 11.5 minutes per game. However, Martin wasn’t a significant part of the Aces’ playoff rotation in what was ultimately an unsuccessful title defense.

Martin is now a member of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest franchise that began play this season, and is making the most of the opportunity. She entered Sunday’s game against the unbeaten Minnesota Lynx averaging 4.5 points and 1.8 rebounds through five contests, helping Golden State to a 2-3 start.

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Martin began trending on X during a stellar first half against Minnesota, in which she went on an offensive run that caught the attention of the entire league and its fans.

“KATE MARTIN IS ON FIRE‼️,” the WNBA posted to its official X account. “11 POINTS IN 5 MINUTES. MIN-GSV | WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by @coinbase.”

Martin dropped 14 points in just seven minutes of court time off the bench during the opening half, which vaulted the Valkyries to a one-point halftime lead of 52-51.

Related: Caitlin Clark Injury Update: Indiana Fever Star Could Miss Extended Time

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.