The biggest part of Kate Martin
's debut for the Chicago Sky
wasn't necessarily what appeared in the box score, because after moving between multiple WNBA teams in 2026, simply getting another opportunity carried weight. Importantly, someone with a particularly personal connection to her journey was watching clearly.
That person was the current Iowa Hawkeyes head coach, Jan Jensen, a former coach of Martin's, as well as her aunt. Jensen made a post on X
, quoting the WNBA's post about her first basket as a member of the Sky.
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"Atta Girl, @kate_martin22 So proud of you in every way!" she wrote. "Finish out strong! Love ya!"
Kate Martin ended the night with five points and an assist, as her debut for the Sky came after a long wait. On September 2, the Sky signed the former Iowa guard to a developmental contract after she was waived by the Los Angeles Sparks
, marking her fourth team in three years.
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Martin was initially drafted by the Las Vegas Aces
in 2024 with the 18th overall pick in the second round. She was picked by the Golden State Valkyries
as part of the 2024 expansion draft and joined the team for the 2025 season. She was eventually waived, ending up with the Sparks.
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With the Sparks, Martin averaged 2.3 points in 7.1 minutes per game over 17 games, also making history when she became the first player in team history to be promoted from a developmental contract to the regular roster, when she signed a standard deal with the franchise on July 6.
Martin had to sit out the Sky's previous two games after the team returned to regular play following a league-wide break for the FIBA World Cup, and she only needed a few minutes to make her mark in her most recent appearance against the Toronto Tempo
. She also had supporters in the stands, with both her mother and an old trainer in the crowd to watch the Illinois native debut for the Sky.
Her not playing until now was something that fans immediately noticed, and it caught enough attention for Sky head coach Tyler Marsh to clarify that he wants Martin and Morgan Maly to have enough chances to play, especially since the team has four total activations left for developmental players.
"We only have a select number of developmental games to utilize, and with two games left, I want to be able to have a little bit of flexibility as much as possible with that window," Marsh said, revealing that Martin would play against the Tempo.
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As praise poured in from Jensen, it was apparent that Kate Martin's connection with Jensen is deeper than just player and coach. Jensen was an assistant coach on the Iowa Hawkeyes squads which made it all the way to the NCAA national title game in 2024. Notably, Julie Fitzpatrick, Martin's maternal aunt, is married to Jensen, making them related by marriage.
Jensen has been a big proponent of Martin, even celebrating on social media after she was picked up by the Sky in early September.
"Hawk Fans…how pumped are we that @kate_martin22 is now so close to Hawkeye Country?!???????????? Let's Goooo, Kate!!!! We're so happy for you, Kate…love you!" Jensen wrote on X back then.
Martin was a standout player in college, and her five-season career at Iowa saw her named team captain four of those seasons, sharing the backcourt with Caitlin Clark
as they led the program to its first appearances in the national championship game in 2023 and 2024. She played 163 games for Iowa over five years.
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Her efforts tonight were not in vain either, as the Sky snapped a five-game losing streak as Gabriela Jaquez and Sydney Taylor scored 18 points each to lead the team to a win over the Tempo. Toronto tried their best, with Isabelle Harrison
and Laura Juskaite combining for 41 points, but the supporting cast just didn't have enough.
For Martin, this is perhaps the last chance to prove that she truly belongs in the league. Her debut might have lasted only 16 minutes, but she has someone from her Iowa family cheering her on.
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