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Kate Martin joined WNBA legend Sue Bird’s podcast on Friday and spoke warmly about her former teammate Caitlin Clark. The friendship between the two blossomed during their college days at Iowa, where they shared the court as Hawkeyes and built a connection that’s endured beyond the NCAA.
Having witnessed Clark's meteoric rise firsthand, Martin offered a unique perspective shaped by years of watching Clark light up arenas with jaw-dropping performances. Just as importantly, she also saw Clark’s relentless grind behind the scenes, far from the spotlight.
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Reflecting on Clark’s work ethic, Martin emphasized that the Indiana Fever star has always been committed to putting in the hard work and never relied on shortcuts. She added that Clark’s drive for greatness doesn’t just elevate her own game, it also inspires those around her to push their limits and strive for excellence.
"She was in the gym constantly, she approached everything with a sort of excellence. she wasn’t going through the motions, especially whenever our gray squad guys were playing against us, she had that next level mindset and it raised us all up with her," Martin said on the "Bird's Eye View" podcast.
Reflecting on their time at Iowa, Clark and Martin spent four years as teammates with the Hawkeyes. Together, they led the team to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship games in 2023 and 2024, though they fell short of capturing the title in both finals.
Caitlin Clark's heartfelt birthday message for Kate Martin
Kate Martin recently celebrated her 25th birthday on Thursday and among the many well-wishers was her friend, Caitlin Clark. The Indiana Fever star took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message, posting a picture with Martin on her story alongside the caption: "See you v soon ILY, happy birthday Kater."
On the court this season, Clark has been sidelined for three straight games due to a quad strain after appearing in the Fever’s first four matchups. Meanwhile, Martin has emerged as a valuable spark off the bench for the Golden State Valkyries, recently notching a career-high 14-point performance.
