Kate Martin is not taking her journey with the Aces for granted

BROOKLYN — Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin was all smiles as she addressed a swath of reporters before Game 2 between the Liberty and Aces. Perhaps she’s just used to the attention. Martin — who has yet to play a single minute in the WNBA postseason — is regularly stopped for photos by fans and fields questions from the media far more often than the average WNBA player who isn’t even in their team’s playoff rotation.

That’s because Martin is not your average rookie. The six-foot guard has sold the 4th-most jerseys of any WNBA player this season, and when she checks into the game, regardless of which arena she is at, there’s an undeniable crowd pop.

Martin famously didn’t know that she was going to be drafted when she came to WNBA Draft Night to support her Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark, the shoe-in for the No. 1 pick. But next thing she knew, it was her that was on the stage with commissioner Cathy Engelbert, drafted by the Aces as the No. 18 overall pick. That moment came just two weeks after the completion of an illustrious basketball career at Iowa.

In her first WNBA season, she appeared in 34 games, averaging 2.6 points in 11.5 minutes a night. All year, Martin’s teammates praised her all-around play and impact on winning, while she adjusted to life as a professional.

“Kate Martin is awesome. Kate Martin picks up things so quickly, she’s an amazing sponge,” Plum said in May. “I think Becky nicknamed her Kate ‘Money’ Martin. I think that’s gonna stick.”

“And when I say ‘money,’ it’s not just about scoring and stuff, she’s just in the right place at the right time. She just makes people better. And that’s what Becky values, that’s what our coaching staff values and that’s why she’s gonna be a great asset to our team.”

At the beginning of the year, Martin’s on-court role was consequential. With Chelsea Gray missing the first 12 games of the regular season — still recovering from a foot injury she suffered in the finals — it was the Iowa alum who stepped into an unexpected role in the rotation, providing defensive versatility and showcasing an unwavering knack for making the right play.

A month after she helped lead Iowa to the NCAA championship game — averaging 13.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 50.7% shooting in her final collegiate season — Martin was not just asked to become a professional basketball player, but asked to do so for one of the highest-scrutinized teams in the W while defending their second title.

​​”This entire year has been a whirlwind,” Martin said, standing courtside at Barclay’s Center. “I feel super grateful to be here right now.”

With Gray back in the rotation, Martin’s minutes declined in the second half of the season, Still, she’s remained a critical member of the Aces locker room, taking it all in, albeit in a different role than she was used to Iowa.

“I actually feel like I’ve taken a little bit more of a backseat this year in terms of being a vocal leader,” Martin said. “I found my niche, and a way of being able to still hype up my teammates and tell them individually if I see things, or tell them if they did something really well, like, ‘oh my god, that was amazing.’”

In the meantime, she’s learning from players who have far more experience, like 37-year-old Alysha Clark and 31-year-old Chelsea Gray. Six of her Aces teammates competed at the Paris Olympics. Most of them have won multiple WNBA championships.

So, while at Iowa, Martin often served as one of the louder voices in the locker room, in Las Vegas, she’s opted not to address the full group nearly as much.

“I’m a rookie,” Martin said with a smile. “I really don’t know a whole lot — this is my first year. I’m trying to learn and be a sponge, and soak up as much knowledge as I possibly can. And, I think I’ll be able to grow into that role in my future years.”

Martin’s Aces are on the brink of elimination, facing an 0-2 hole against the New York Liberty in the WNBA semifinals. But, the experience of competing for a WNBA title is one that Martin is soaking up.

“I’ve never competed for a WNBA championship before, but I’ve been blessed to compete for championships before at every level that I’ve played at, and so it’s pretty cool that I’m getting to be a part of another playoff contention,” Martin said.

There’s been no shortage of outside noise around the team — and around the league — this season. But, it’s not something that’s particularly new to Martin, whose college team sold out arenas and broke viewership records on a regular basis. That’s helped make the transition easier, both for her and for Clark, who’s certainly dealt with her fair share of noise during her rookie season in Indiana.

“Our attention and the following at Iowa the last couple of years was at a pinnacle — most viewed game(s), we were a part of a lot of those,” Martin said, adding that famous people frequently attended Hawkeyes games.

“I still am in awe whenever I see Steph Curry sitting courtside, or LeBron James, or anybody sitting courtside — like, that’s super cool,” Martin said. “But, I’m glad that I got to experience that while I was in college as well, because it’s been a smooth transition. Knowing the attention that we got at Iowa and how to handle that, and we’ve talked through that, and it’s a learning experience, a learning curve.”

So, what’s next for Kate Martin?

First, it’s Game 3 in Las Vegas on Friday night, in which the Aces will fight to stay alive in their semifinals series against the New York Liberty. Then, comes an offseason of basketball that Martin has kept somewhat vague — in August, she told reporters: “I have plans. I’m just not sharing them yet.”

For a long time, Martin’s hope was to eventually become a basketball coach, but now she’s not even certain if that’s what she wants.

A successful rookie season in the WNBA has shown her that another future is possible.

“I just want to play basketball for as long as I possibly can.”