Kate Martin’s Comeback: How a Late-Night Call from Caitlin Clark Saved Her Career

Kate Martin’s career was on the verge of disappearing. Once the trusted co-leader of a historic Iowa women’s basketball run alongside superstar Caitlin Clark, Martin found herself sidelined and forgotten after being drafted by the Las Vegas Aces. She wasn’t injured, unmotivated, or lacking talent—she was simply stuck in the wrong place, and the WNBA wasn’t waiting for her to figure it out.

While the Aces’ seasoned veterans dominated the floor, Martin watched from the bench, her minutes dwindling and her confidence fading. From May to September, her playing time was cut nearly in half. Her averages? Just 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. For someone who had just come off back-to-back Final Four appearances and averaged over 13 points per game at Iowa, it was devastating.

“I wasn’t even getting a chance,” Martin later admitted. “Every game I sat out felt like another door closing.”

The WNBA is brutal. It doesn’t give rookies time to adjust. If you’re not instantly producing, you’re often ignored. Martin wasn’t just battling inexperience—she was battling irrelevance in a system built for stars, not development.

But then, at her lowest, came the call.

It was late at night. On the other end of the phone? Caitlin Clark—the very player she had trusted, lifted, and battled with at Iowa. Clark was facing her own growing pains with the Indiana Fever, but when she heard how Martin was being treated in Vegas, she gave her the push she needed.

“She told me I wasn’t the problem,” Martin said. “I was just in the wrong place.”

That one conversation changed everything.

When Martin went unprotected in the expansion draft, she didn’t sulk—she saw it as a second chance. The Golden State Valkyries, a brand-new WNBA franchise, believed in her. They didn’t just see a backup player—they saw a builder, a leader, and someone to help shape the identity of a franchise from day one.

“This league is all about opportunity,” Martin said. “And you just need one shot.”

Golden State gave her that shot.

Fans immediately embraced her. Season tickets sold out. Chants rang through the Chase Center. And for the first time in her pro career, Martin felt seen. She wasn’t just part of the roster—she was part of the plan.

Head coach Natalie Nass, who previously worked with Martin in Vegas, implemented a fresh system that prioritized energy and effort over perfection. No more punishing mistakes. No more buried minutes. In this new system, Martin was allowed to breathe, compete, and grow.

“She brings the same fire, the same selfless energy that made her the glue at Iowa,” said Valkyries GM Ohan Nonan. “But now, she’s doing it in a place that values that.”

Martin’s role now isn’t about stardom—it’s about substance. She brings relentless defense, unmatched basketball IQ, and a calming leadership presence that uplifts teammates on and off the court. She dives for loose balls, sets crushing screens, boxes out bigger opponents, and makes the plays that don’t show up on highlight reels—but win games.

Back in Iowa, her connection with Caitlin Clark was nearly telepathic. They read each other like a book, predicting cuts, passes, and momentum shifts. That same unselfish mentality is what she brings to Golden State—a team desperate to build chemistry and culture from the ground up.

“She was the heartbeat of Iowa,” Clark once said. “And now she gets to be the heartbeat of something entirely new.”

Martin admits leaving Vegas was hard. But it was necessary.

“There’s a difference between quitting and reclaiming your future,” she explained. “I wasn’t going to waste another year waiting for minutes. I knew what I could bring. I just needed someone else to see it.”

Now, she’s not just part of the Valkyries—she’s part of their foundation. Her fingerprints are on every practice, every game, and every bit of team culture. She’s finally in a place where effort matters as much as highlight stats.

As Sue Bird once said, “Finding the right environment can unlock a player’s true potential.”

That’s exactly what’s happening.

Kate Martin isn’t just surviving the WNBA anymore—she’s building her legacy within it. The Golden State Valkyries gave her more than minutes. They gave her a future.

And all it took was one phone call, one leap of faith, and the courage to bet on herself.

The next time you see her hit the court in a Valkyries jersey, remember: every great comeback starts with someone brave enough to rewrite the story.

And Kate Martin? She’s just getting started.