Not a single basketball fan was surprised when the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.

Everyone assumed that would happen, especially after the season she just had at Iowa.
 

What people didn’t expect, however, was for Clark’s teammate, Kate Martin, to come off the board in the second round of the draft.

Caitlin Clark celebrates with former Iowa teammates, Kate Martin, Jada Gyamfi and Gabbie Marshall and Raina Harmon, an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes after the 2024 WNBA Draft in New York on April 15, 2024.

Caitlin Clark congratulates Kate Martin.

The Las Vegas Aces selected Martin 18th overall on Monday night.

Martin was nicknamed “The Glue” while at Iowa because she always kept the team together.

She played great defense, rebounded well, and would always come up big in crunch time.

As you’d expect, Clark was thrilled that Martin got drafted as early as she did.

Clark posted a selfie with Martin on Instagram along with this caption: “Couldn’t be happier for you.”

Martin spoke to ESPN after getting drafted by the Aces. She told Holly Rowe that she attended the draft in Brooklyn simply to support Clark.

“There are a lot of emotions right now,” Martin said.

“I’m really happy to be here. I was here to support Caitlin, but I was hoping to hear my name called.

All I wanted was an opportunity and I got it. I’m really excited.”

WNBA training camp begins on April 28. We’ll find out then if Martin can make an impact.