In a young WNBA career defined by good fortune, even Kate Martin's injuries might be coming at the right time.
The Las Vegas Aces rookie crumpled to the floor while advancing the ball past midcourt due to an awkward misstep in Tuesday's game against the Chicago Sky , immediately reaching for her ankle.
Martin would not return after her second-quarter exit, diagnosed with a "right leg injury" by the team, which has yet to issue an additional update. However, Martin's father Matt told CBS affiliate KCCI that his daughter suffered a bruised Achilles tendon and noted the "perfect timing" of her injury given the upcoming Olympic break.
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Tuesday marked Las Vegas' last game for nearly a month as the WNBA celebrates its All-Star festivities in Phoenix this week before sending the league's best players to Paris for the Olympic games, returning to the floor on August 17 against the New York Liberty. While a bruise to the tendon offers little insight into her recovery time, Martin's father's "timing" comments offer hope that her return might be measured in weeks rather than the year-long prognosis of some Achilles injuries.
Martin arrived in Las Vegas after a breakout senior season at Iowa, earning public acclaim as Caitlin Clark's sidekick through her historic stampede to the national title game. The Illinois native offered America's top-ranked offense an ultra-efficient scoring punch, nearly compiling a 50-40-90 stat line before drilling several clutch NCAA Tournament baskets to earn the "Money Martin" moniker.
The 6-foot guard was ultimately selected in the second round of April's WNBA Draft by Las Vegas, seemingly with slim odds of cracking the league's most talented roster. But Martin quickly earned the favor of coach Becky Hammon and the Aces roster for her valuable perimeter shooting skillset and her affable candor in the locker room, becoming the lowest 2024 draft pick to maintain their roster spot on opening day.
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The Hawkeye alum has carved out a regular role in the Aces rotation, shooting nearly 40 percent from 3 on the year and earning at least 10 minutes in five of her last seven games before Tuesday's game.
Her scary injury provided another example of the rookie's unique relationship with the Aces' star-studded squad, which quickly converged in a circle around Martin to obstruct the view of broadcast cameras. Martin has formed a bond with A'ja Wilson , calling the front-running MVP candidate the "best leader" she's ever played for after surviving a round of light-hearted rookie ribbing at the beginning of the season.
Wilson discussed the Aces' protective measures after Tuesday's game. "I'm going to take care of my rookie, no matter what. It could be a knee scrub, it could be anything. We're going to take care of her no matter what because she's one of us, she's our sister and and someone that we're always going to depend on and count on."
"But at the same time, cameras be getting in your business and we don't want that, we don't need that. So we try to protect her peace, her mental and just her emotions. You shouldn't be afraid to show her emotion."
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