EX-IOWA STAR KATE MARTIN SHEEPISH ABOUT WNBA ALL-STAR GAME VOTES - 'OH MY GOSH!'

Former Iowa women's basketball star Kate Martin has gone from not expecting to hear her name called at the 2024 WNBA Draft to being in line to make the 2024 All-Star Game roster as a rookie on the Las Vegas Aces.

The guard has become an instant cult hero in Las Vegas, with an star-studded cast of teammates embracing her with friendly banter and fans enjoying her consistently upbeat attitude. Still, Martin was taken aback to learn that the first round of fan voting put her in a position to make the All-Star team, considering she averages 4 points per game.

"Oh my gosh, I'm embarrassed," Martin told reporters via the Review-Journal. "No, but it's cool. I feel very grateful for the fan support that I have. They don't have to do that, they don't have to go and vote for me. That takes extra time out of people's days, so I really appreciate it."

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Martin added: "But there are a lot of deserving people to get those votes, and there are a lot more deserving people who get to go to the All-Star Game. I haven't earned anything since I've been here, so I really appreciate all my fans out there, and I love them ... but there are way more deserving people."

The 24-year-old attended the 2024 WNBA Draft in Brooklyn primarily to support college teammate Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick to the Indiana Fever. But the Aces, eager to add a strong defender with stellar basketball instincts, selected Martin in the second round, and she made their roster after the preseason.

Because Chelsea Gray missed the first month of the campaign because of an injury and Jackie Young missed time due to illness, Martin has gotten more early playing time than the typical second-round WNBA pick. Still, her numbers are well below those of other All-Star candidates. She's on the court 17.2 minutes per game.

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In the first round of All-Star fan voting, Martin ranked seventh among players eligible for Team WNBA, which will face a Team USA made up of players representing the United States at the Olympics. The top 10 eligible vote-getters are automatically included on Team WNBA, so Martin is on track for selection.

Rookies dominated early voting. Martin, Clark, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink cracked the top 10 when excluding players bound for Team USA. However, Brink won't suit up after tearing her ACL earlier this month.

In the NCAA, Martin played a key role during Iowa's back-to-back trips to the national title game. She averaged 14 points and 8.7 rebounds at the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and she scored 21 points in an Elite 8 victory over LSU. The Edwardsville, Illinois, native appears bound for more postseason action, with Las Vegas considered a WNBA Finals contender.

2024-06-25T18:07:10Z dg43tfdfdgfd