Before Caitlin Clark became one of the biggest names in basketball, Kate Martin had already heard of her from Clark’s impressive performances in high school games around Iowa. Martin, now playing for the Golden State Valkyries, had joined the Iowa Hawkeyes two years prior to Clark’s arrival. But once Clark came onto the scene, it didn’t take long for Martin to recognize the influence she would have.
“She had visited a couple times and was already a big name in Iowa,” Martin said during an interview with Sue Bird on Bird’s Eye View. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, this girl really thinks she’s going to show up and take over.’ And then she actually did she came in and dominated right away. I thought, ‘Okay, here we go.’”
Martin recalled that summer before Clark’s freshman year and was amazed by what she saw. “She was doing things I’d never seen anyone do before. That kind of confidence as a freshman is rare. We knew she was going to be something special.”
Over time, Martin and Clark became close, and Clark went on to become one of the most recognizable figures in the sport, collecting honors and, in many ways, taking over the basketball world.
Martin emphasized that Clark’s success wasn’t just due to natural talent. She highlighted Clark’s relentless work ethic as a key to her rapid rise. “She lived in the gym,” Martin told Bird. “Her mindset was all about excellence. It wasn’t just going through the motions she was out to dominate every drill, every practice.”
Be the first to comment