Kate Martin’s Go-To High-Protein Meal

From NCAA standout to Vegas rookie and now Golden State Valkyries star, Kate Martin has proved her talent on the court again and again. Last week, her team made history as the first WNBA expansion team to clinch the playoffs in their inaugural season. And ahead of tonight’s game, we learned how she fuels her body for optimal performance.

Martin is a brand ambassador with DripDrop, and through this partnership, we chatted with the athlete about how she prioritizes hydration in her routine. Plus, she shared her go-to pregame meal, the travel essentials that she (and her teammates) love and more below.

Do you have a morning routine that you stick by, from when you wake up to your go-to breakfast?

On a practice day, I wake up, and I’ll drink a little bit of water. I always try to drink some water before I leave the house, and then I’ll head to the practice facility. When I’m there, I always eat egg whites, some fruit and toast. I’ll also have a coffee every morning. After that, I go into my mobility, weight lifting, etc. And then during practice, I’ll drink my water and have more electrolytes, and it just keeps me really hydrated and keeps me fueled throughout the long practice day.

Any favorite pregame or postgame meals that keep you fueled?

For a pregame meal, I always eat chicken breasts and plain noodles. I just get in my protein and my carbs, and I have that pretty much every game day. If I’m not having noodles, then I’m having rice. And then postgame, a chicken Caesar wrap. I don’t know why, it’s just so good after a game. So pretty much after every single game, I have a chicken Caesar wrap.

When you say “plain noodles,” you mean…

Just butter noodles, and I’ll add a little cheese on it.

Why become a brand ambassador for DripDrop?

I am very selective in the brands that I work with, but I felt very aligned with DripDrop, and I love their products. First of all, DripDrop tastes amazing, and it’s a proven formula. Everyone I’ve worked with at DripDrop has just been amazing people, so when you have a great product that truly works, and then you’re surrounded by great people, it makes it an easy decision for me to want to work with them.

Do you have a favorite DripDrop flavor?

I’ve been obsessed with the orange flavor lately. That’s been my game day go-to.

How are you able to stay hydrated throughout the day?

With how much we sweat, it’s really important to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. You can’t really fully replenish yourself by just drinking water all day, so having DripDrop and drinking that daily, it really does help me. And drinking just water gets boring, I like to have a fun drink. I’m a girl who wants to have a fun drink with my meal, and so if I can have something that tastes amazing and I’m getting extra hydrated from it, then you know it’s a win-win situation.

Go-to travel essentials?

With traveling, being on so many planes, it’s so easy to get dehydrated. On the plane, I’ll always have DripDrop, and I’ll make sure to at least drink one whole bottle of water throughout the entire flight. I really noticed that flights really mess up my body and my hydration a lot, so that’s definitely essential. A good book is essential, board games are essential, and I love playing Bananagrams with my teammates. We’ve been obsessed with that game lately. Other than that, just snacking and having a good meal on the flight or before the flight is super important.

What’s your food hot take? 

I don’t love seafood, and I feel like that’s not normal for living in the Bay Area because the seafood here is great. Also, I hate peas, cooked peas and cooked carrots. And I think that buffalo and ranch is the best combination of all time,

What does “eating well” mean to you?

Eating well to me is eating balanced meals, making sure I’m getting in three meals a day with some snacks in between and eating things that are going to fuel my body and help me have a great game. It’s not eating things that are going to be heavy and not sit well. Eating is recovery, and it’s really important to make sure that you’re eating well and eating what fuels you and what makes you feel good.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.