There’s no doubt that Caitlin Clark is the most iconic former Iowa Hawkeye in women’s basketball history. And why wouldn’t she be? From record-breaking performances to leading Iowa to back-to-back NCAA championship finals, Clark’s impact is undeniable. But has another former Hawkeye been unfairly overlooked while she basks in the spotlight?
That’s right, the star who has taken Unrivaled by storm—the new Golden State Valkyrie and Laces BC guard, Kate Martin! The 24-year-old, who often played in the shadows of Caitlin Clark in the NCAAW and Kelsey Plum in the WNBA, is finally stepping into the spotlight and shining like a bright star in Unrivaled.
Well, it’s not just a personal feeling! Former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder shares the same sentiment. Recently, Bluder joined Seerat Sohi on ‘The Ringer WNBA show,’ where the two took a deep dive into Kate Martin’s incredible journey and the growth she’s experienced over the years.
Bluder says, ” In her junior year, I think everybody was watching Caitlin and Kate got overshadowed so much and then it was her senior year and I really believe people were starting to think that hey wait a second, this girl is good too and not just Caitlin, I think it was her senior year when people started to reach out and talk to us and find out more about her.”
Bluder’s words ring true when looking at Martin’s senior-year stats, where she averaged 13.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 28.8 minutes per game. While Clark stole the spotlight, Martin’s all-around contributions proved why Martin was a heavily sought-after talent herself.
While Kate Martin is set to suit up for her new team Valkyries in the WNBA this season, Caitlin Clark hasn’t been shy about trying to bring her former teammate to Indiana. It’s a storyline worth keeping an eye on. Could a Hawkeye reunion be in the Fever’s future? Indiana fans certainly hope so!
Caitlin Clark wants to reunite with Kate Martin
As Kate Martin continues to showcase her talents in Unrivaled, Caitlin Clark has been singing her praises. While also sneakily dropping some hints about a potential reunion down the road. Could the Hawkeye duo team up again in the future? Caitlin has her say in it!
In the latest Swarmcast podcast, Caitlin said, “I think people are just seeing her confidence grow and grow, I am really happy for her and you know hopefully I can recruit her at Fever somehow some way, one day, who knows? I am gonna try to figure that out, it’s my goal at some point in my career to team up with Kate, we will see if that happens, don’t get too excited.”
Bluder always knew Martin had star potential, and now the world is finally taking notice. With Caitlin openly campaigning for a reunion, could we see the Hawkeye duo back together in the WNBA? Only time will tell! Stay tuned for more updates regarding this topic!
The post Iowa Legend Claims Caitlin Clark’s Stardom Diminished Ex-Teammate’s Recognition appeared first on EssentiallySports.
