Checking in on former Hawkeyes in the WNBA
If it doesn’t feel like it’s been very long since Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin were playing for Iowa at the Final Four, it’s because it hasn’t been long. In fact, the Hawkeyes faced off against South Carolina in the national title game just 50 days ago. Not even two months later and the two former teammates squared off against each other for the first time as pros.
On Saturday, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever traveled to Las Vegas to face off against Kate Martin, Megan Gustafson and the Aces. The Aces picked up the 99-80 victory, but that isn’t the only game those three former Hawkeyes have played in. The WNBA season is already two weeks old, so it’s time to take a look at how the Hawkeyes have fared.
Indiana Fever G Caitlin Clark
The expectations were sky-high for Caitlin Clark coming into her rookie season with the Indiana Fever. It was unfair to expect her to come into the league and put up 30 a game, but how can you blame fans for getting excited about the back-to-back national player of the year, the all-time leading scorer and the obvious number one pick in the draft. Women’s basketball has never had a player with the popularity that Caitlin Clark possesses.
The Fever are off to just a 1-6 start, which has had some believing that it has been a rough start for Clark. Despite the win/loss record, Caitlin has continued to improve from game one and is still working to get acclimated with a team that she has spent just over a month with.
“I’m trying to find the balance of what my team needs from game to game,” Caitlin recently said. “Do they need me to be a little more of a scorer, a little more aggressive or do they need me to facilitate and feed them the ball. I’ve been finding that balance and I think I’ve done a really good job of that.”
Through seven games she is averaging 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists, while she has scored 20+ points in three games. In their first win of the season over the Sparks, Caitlin put up a near triple-double, with 11 points, ten rebounds and eight assists. She is just one of three players in WNBA history to average 15-5-5 through their first seven career games. Her 108 points scored is double that of Cameron Brink (54) who is in second place for rookie scoring, although she has played in just five games. Caitlin also is tied with Natasha Cloud of Phoenix for the league lead with 44 assists, while she is 12th in the league with 38 rebounds.
UP NEXT: vs Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday (6:00pm CT – NBA TV)
the absolute DAGGER from Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/Z9xDe6l3ts— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 25, 2024
Las Vegas Aces G Kate Martin
What a story Kate Martin has been. First, people didn’t think she would get drafted. Then, people didn’t think she would make the Aces roster. Then, people said she wouldn’t get any minutes. Wrong, wrong and wrong. On May 11th, Kate made her debut in the Aces preseason game against the Puerto Rico National Team, finishing with five points and two rebounds. She didn’t appear in the season opener against the Mercury, but over the last three games Martin is averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 21.0 minutes per game. In their recent win over the Fever, Kate put up a season-high 12 points and seven rebounds. Not only is she getting minutes on the floor, Kate Martin has carved out a role for herself.
“She’s a basketball player. If you don’t know what that means, then you should watch her. She is somebody who understands angles. Being in the right place at the right time and making the right read and she’s just getting her feet wet,” said Aces head coach Becky Hammon.
“I’m just really happy for her and everything Coach Hammon says about her is so true,” said Caitlin Clark before facing off against her former teammate. “Every person that played at Iowa and was around her knows that to be true. She’s the ultimate teammate, ultimate person, ultimate leader.”
UP NEXT: at Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday (7:00pm CT – NBA TV)
Rookie Kate Martin was hoopin 12 points 7 rebounds WNBA career high! pic.twitter.com/8KPrIk1AIx— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 26, 2024
Las Vegas Aces F Megan Gustafson
In February, the former National Player of the Year and five-year WNBA vet won a EuroCup title in April with the London Lions, averaging 16.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Over the WNBA offseason, Gustafson signed a two-year, $190.8K deal with the Aces. She stood out in the Aces preseason game against the Puerto Rico National Team, putting up 17 points and six rebounds, as well as four made three-pointers. Through four games played, Gustafson is averaging 3.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 12.0 minutes per game. She put up eight points and four rebounds in the Aces win over the Los Angeles Sparks on May 18th.
UP NEXT: at Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday (7:00pm CT – NBA TV)
Kate Martin Megan Gustafson pic.twitter.com/Kt8RIcQoMg— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 18, 2024
The post Checking in on former Hawkeyes in the WNBA appeared first on On3.
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