Kate Martin

Kate Marie Martin (born June 5, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Breeze of the three-on-three league Unrivaled. She played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. She was selected in the second round (18th overall) by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2024 WNBA draft.

Martin attended Edwardsville High School in her hometown of Edwardsville, Illinois. Martin captained the Iowa Hawkeyes for four seasons and helped lead Iowa to their first national championship game as a senior in 2023 and helped Iowa return to the national title game the following year.

Early life Martin was born on June 5, 2000, and grew up in Granite City and Edwardsville, Illinois. She is the youngest of three children born to teachers Matt and Jill Martin. Martin started playing basketball at age five, participating in local recreational leagues and playing pickup at the YMCA. Starting in elementary school, she frequented basketball camps at University of Iowa every summer and slept with an Iowa women's basketball poster above her childhood bed. Martin also played boys' tackle football in elementary school and later took up volleyball. In seventh grade, Martin led her basketball team to the 2012 Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Class 4A state championship game, losing by three points in the final. That same year, she helped her middle school volleyball team win the 2013 seventh-grade IESA Class 4A state championship in straight sets. The following year, Martin's basketball team claimed victory at the 2013 eighth grade IESA Class 4A state championship, finishing with an undefeated 28–0 season, while her volleyball team placed third at the 2014 eighth grade state championship.

High school Martin played four years of varsity basketball for Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois, under head coach Lori Blade. As a freshman, Martin did not see many minutes on the court, coming off the bench and averaging 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. During her sophomore year in postseason play, Martin helped Edwardsville defeat Rock Island High School in the sectional championship by holding their freshman guard, Brea Beal, pointless in the first quarter. Despite Martin's 13-point contribution in the game, her team suffered a second straight state quarterfinal loss to Benet Academy, the eventual back-to-back 2016 state champions. Martin earned Class 4A All-State fourth-team accolades from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA).

As a junior, Martin surpassed 1,000 career points and averaged 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. The number-one-ranked Edwardsville team finished their 2016–17 season with a 32–1 record, reaching the Class 4A state championship final where they were upset by Geneva Community High School, losing 41–40 on a last-second shot. Martin was named to the IBCA All-State Class 4A second-team and was selected as an Associated Press (AP) All-State honorable mention at the conclusion of her junior season. As a senior, Martin averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game with 63.9 field-goal, 50.9 three-point, and 80 free-throw percentages. As team captain, and was named to both the Associated Press and the IBCA Class 4A All-State first-teams as a senior.

Martin also played four years of varsity volleyball as an outside hitter at Edwardsville. She finished her high school volleyball career with a new school record for career block assists (194) and was also named to the All-SWC first-team her senior year. During her junior year, she was recruited by Iowa Many of Martin's aunts and uncles are former college athletes: Julie Fitzpatrick played basketball for Drake (scoring over 1700 career points), Tom Fitzpatrick played football for Drake, Matt Fitzpatrick played basketball for St. Ambrose, and Mitch Martin played football for Western Illinois. From 2021 to 2024, Martin's maternal cousin, Laney Fitzpatrick, ran cross country and middle distance at the University of Iowa and interned for Iowa women's basketball operations as an undergraduate.

In May 2022, Martin completed her bachelor's degree in sports and recreation management at the University of Iowa. While in college at Iowa, she received numerous endorsements for her coaching aspiration and potential from Iowa teammates, Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano, and was often called the "coach in the locker room". Martin also received high praise from Lisa Bluder,

Martin grew up and went to high school with NFL defensive end, A. J. Epenesa. Martin's dad was Epenesa's football and track and field coach during his time at Edwardsville High School.

Business interests During her time at Iowa, Martin signed name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals with Iowa and Quad Cities businesses, including Estela's Fresh Mex, Mel Foster Co., RAYGUN, and Zimmerman Honda.

Martin is represented by Excel Sports Management, after signing with the agency in May 2024. In September 2024, Martin announced her partnership with American Eagle Outfitters on her social media platforms. In October 2024, Martin appeared in a TikTok ad campaign for TOGETHXR and Aflac alongside her Aces teammate, Sydney Colson. Martin partnered with Athleta and their "Power of She Collective" in January 2025, joining fellow female athletes Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, and Lexie Hull. In February 2025, Martin joined Samsung's Team Galaxy social campaign.

In popular culture Before the start of the 2021-22 college basketball season, Iowa head coach, Lisa Bluder, praised Martin's leadership as team captain and called her "The Glue" of their team.

Martin appeared in the closing credits on the April 13, 2024 episode of Saturday Night Live, alongside her Iowa teammates, Caitlin Clark, Gabbie Marshall, and Jada Gyamfi, after Clark made a surprise appearance on Weekend Update.

After the Aces' May 31, 2024 game against the Atlanta Dream, Martin was asked and suggested that her fans be called "The Martinis". The following month, RAYGUN, an Iowa-based T-shirt company, and Martin released a "Martini" fan club T-shirt.

Filmography +Overview of Kate Martin television appearancesYearTitleRoleNotes 2023 The B1G Trip Herself 3 episodes 2024 Full Court Press 4-part docuseries