Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin used to be known best as Caitlin Clark’s teammate. Not anymore!
Kate ‘Money’ Martin has carved out a career of her own in the WNBA after showing up to the draft in support of her best friend, and the other half of Iowa’s former backcourt.
It is rather difficult for rookies to make a roster in such a small league. They often get waived right before the start of the regular season after training camp. The odds of Martin making the team were fairly slim.
However, all she wanted was an opportunity to prove why she is worthy of a spot and did exactly that!
Kelsey Plum absolutely loves the 24-year-old. The rest of the Aces also seem to adore her, even if their actions may not give that appearance. Their shenanigans are actually a showing of affection!
As is typical in any sports league, Martin has fell victim to some classic rookie hazing.
Her Las Vegas teammates presented her with a new backpack for the season last week. She will be rocking a pink sparkly backpack whenever they hit the road.
The backpack is forever part of Martin’s game day drip— at least, until her teammates decide that she has done her time. That could take awhile! She’s pulled up with the pink straps in every game since.
Martin was also made the butt of the joke on Tuesday night.
The Aces play the Wings in Dallas on Wednesday. They flew charter, because a viral video of Clark in the airport helped to expedite that process, but needed to bus to the airport from the top-tier team facility.
Las Vegas pulled out without its rookie on the bus! Martin was left behind, momentarily.
As soon as she saw the coach bus on its way out of the facility exit, she took off running and made it on!
Obviously, the Aces were not actually going to leave Kate Martin in the parking lot. It was a prank that never gets old. They saw that their new teammate wasn’t on the bus with them and took the chance to make her sweat it out a little bit!