Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin dribbles the ball up the court during Thursday’s game against the Chicago Sky inside Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Rick Brewer/Ricks Pics Photography

Sitting inside a quiet Wintrust Arena as several of her Las Vegas Aces teammates put up shots, Edwardsville High School graduate Kate Martin came to realize one of the toughest moments of her life may have very well put her on the path to the WNBA.

A torn ACL injury suffered at a practice before the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game in June 2018 meant Martin was going to have to take a medical redshirt for her freshman year with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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ra year, along with the COVID year, may have been just what Martin needed to help her to being a second-round selection by Las Vegas in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

“I on’t think I’m in the WNBA right now,” said Martin, whose averaging 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds for the 9-6 Aces.

Martin suffered a torn ACL and lateral meniscus in her left knee less than a month after graduating from Edwardsville, where she helped the Tigers to a second-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament in 2017 and a fourth-place finish in 2018. The 6-foot guarded ended her career with 1,518 points.

At the time of the injury, which was the result of a collision in a practice, Martin could only think about her childhood dream of playing for the Hawkeyes was going to be delayed for at least a year. She wasn’t cleared to practice until the following June after Iowa made its first Elite Eight appearance since 1993.

“When I got hurt, all I was thinking was why did this happen to me and couldn’t believe it was happening right now at the start of my college career,” Martin said.

That redshirt year and the COVID year turned out to be life-changing, as Martin became a fan favorite with Iowa, where she was known as “The Glue,” and helped the Hawkeyes to the NCAA championship game in 2023 and 2024 alongside best friend and all-time NCAA basketball leading scorer Caitlin Clark.

It was the friendship with Clark that brought Martin to the WNBA Draft in Brooklyn. She was there to support Clark, who was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever, before she, herself, was selected in the second round by Las Vegas while sitting in the crowd with college teammates.

“If I wouldn’t have gotten hurt my freshman year at Iowa, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am in now,” Martin said. “It shows that everything happens for a reason…and that there are bigger plans out there for you.”

Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin hits a 3-pointer during Thursday’s game against the Chicago Sky inside Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Rick Brewer/Ricks Pics Photography

Windy City debut

Martin’s WNBA path took her to Chicago’s Wintrust Arena to face the Chicago Sky on Thursday for her first professional game inside her home state.

Among the 9,025 in attendance Thursday were Martin’s parents, Matt and Jill. They made the three-hour drive across Interstate 88 from their current home in the Quad Cities.

“I feel really grateful that my family is taking the time to drive here and come see me play,” Martin said. “Being so far away in Vegas, when I am with my family I try to soak up every minute.”

There were also plenty of Iowa fans in the building that were easily spotted in their Martin No. 20 jerseys.

“It makes me feel really good that I have really good fan support and support from family and friends,” Martin said.

And Martin’s supporters were loud when she checked into the game with 8:04 left in the second quarter and then drilled a 3-pointer from the wing 12 seconds later. She finished the game with three points, one rebound and one assist in seven minutes of the 95-83 win for the Aces.

Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin watches from the bench during Thursday’s game against the Chicago Sky inside Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Rick Brewer/Ricks Pics Photography

Dream come true

Growing up in southern Illinois, Martin dreamt of playing college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. It was her dream school. She had a Hawkeyes poster on her ceiling that she would fall asleep to each night.

That dream has carried over into the WNBA with two-time defending league champion Aces.

“It’s very surreal,” Martin said. “I was just a young kid that had a dream to play at Iowa. From there, I’m living out my dream further and playing at a higher level now. It’s really cool and I’m grateful for it.”

While Martin admitted to not having any posters of the current WNBA stars, she said she’s still in awe being on the same court. Her current teammates in Las Vegas include Team USA players A’Ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum.

“I did a captain’s meeting with Brittney Griner and I was like, ‘What the (heck)?’ It was crazy,” Martin said. “And then you have Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young.