Kate Martin's scary injury puts fairytale first WNBA season on pause as ex-Iowa star sidelined

Kate Martin, who is quickly becoming a fan favorite among Las Vegas Aces fans, sustained a worrisome leg injury on Tuesday night against the Chicago Sky. She lost her footing late in the first quarter, falling on the court and staying down for an extended period.

Aces teammates gathered around Martin, seemingly trying to shield the rookie from TV cameras. She did not return to the game, with Las Vegas officials describing her situation in vague terms as a "lower right leg injury."

"We're gonna take care of her no matter what," said Aces star A'ja Wilson after the contest, which the Sky won 93-85. "She's one of us. She's our sister. It's someone we're always going to depend on and count on."

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Added Wilson: "At the same time, cameras are in our business. We don't want that, we don't need that. So we tried to protect her peace."

Las Vegas took Martin out of Iowa in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. Head coach Becky Hammon and the front office liked Martin's potential as a defensive-minded role player who could provide a jolt off the bench. She'd been influential throughout her time in the NCAA alongside Caitlin Clark , seen by many in the Hawkeyes locker room as the glue that kept a high-performing squad on track.

Because Aces guard Chelsea Gray missed the first month of the campaign, Hammon gave Martin early opportunities to prove her worth. The coach has been impressed by the first-year pro. "Her mind jumps off the page," Hammon told reporters earlier this year. "She's somebody who understands angles, being in the right place at the right time, making the right read.

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"She's built up a lot of trust already in the locker room and with us coaches. And at the end of the day, her try-hard factor is off the charts."

Martin has averaged 3.4 points and 2 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game while shooting 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. Despite her part-time role, fans nearly voted her into the WNBA All-Star Game, a sign of her popularity in the league. Coach and player votes prevented her from making the roster, though, and her new injury may have prevented her from suiting up anyway.

The Aces won't play again until after the Olympics break. Their next scheduled contest is Aug. 17 against the New York Liberty, giving Martin a full month to recover. Further updates on her status should emerge in the coming days.