INDIANA FEVER
Indiana Fever

Kate Martin gets candid about her first impression of Caitlin Clark: "She really did rule the world"

Kate and Caitlin shared the Iowa locker room for four seasons.

Kate Martin (L) confessed that she had a bad first impression of...
Kate Martin (L) confessed that she had a bad first impression of Caitlin Clark.LAPRESSE

Before Caitlin Clark became a generational scorer, WNBA sensation, and the face of women's basketball, she was just a cocky freshman walking into the Iowa locker room - or so Kate Martin thought.

"I was watching videos of her dropping like 40 in high school," Martin recalled during a sit-down with legend Sue Bird. "I was like, 'Oh, this girl thinks she's gonna come here and rule the world.' And she came right in and ruled the world."

Yep - nailed it.

Clark would go on to average a jaw-dropping 26.6 points per game in her first year and finished her college career with an eye-popping 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game as a senior. She shattered records, became the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, and led Iowa to back-to-back Final Four runs - all while captivating the country.

Kate and Caitlin: From rivals to friends

But Martin, her once-skeptical teammate, didn't take long to buy into the Caitlin Clark Experience. "She was doing things that I had never seen before," Martin said. "As a freshman, to have that kind of confidence, not everybody has that. We knew she was going to be outstanding."

While their chemistry on the court was undeniable, the duo's off-court friendship became just as iconic for Iowa fans. Now, as pros, their paths have taken different turns - but they're still linked by a bond forged in black and gold.

Rivals once again

Clark has already made waves with the Indiana Fever, capturing the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award before being sidelined with a quad injury this season.

Meanwhile, Martin, after a short stint with the Las Vegas Aces - where she went 4-0 against Clark - is now thriving with the expansion Golden State Valkyries. Through six games, she's contributing a solid 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest.

As both players continue writing their pro legacies, fans can thank one unforgettable freshman summer for bringing these two stars together - and giving us one of the best "she had that dog in her" stories of recent memory.

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