One Iowa basketball star entered the WNBA Draft as a lock for the No. 1 overall pick. But Caitlin Clark's Hawkeye teammate Kate Martin also heard her name called on draft night, and now she has a shot to play for the reigning WNBA champions.
The Aces took a gamble last season, employing just 11 players on their roster in order to remain under the salary cap.
The 11 players on the opening day roster accounted for $1,420,016 in salary, which came in just $500 under the cap. Las Vegas relied heavily on its star talent in its title defense, and it paid off with another WNBA championship.
For the 2024 season, though, Las Vegas has some salary cap relief with newly retired Candace Parker off the books. That should allow the Aces to keep a 12th player, if they so choose. Martin could fill that 12th spot.
The Aces drafted the Iowa guard with the 18th overall pick, a surprising selection for viewers and for Martin herself. She was Las Vegas' second pick of the night, coming two picks after Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair.
The Aces finalized their opening day roster for the 2024 season on Monday, May 13. Did Martin make the cut?
MORE: A'ja Wilson inks Nike signature shoe deal
Will Kate Martin make the Las Vegas Aces roster?
Martin officially made the cut for the Aces' opening day roster.
Las Vegas announced its 12-man roster on Monday, and the former Hawkeye was one of the members that made the list, securing her spot for the start of the season.
Today the Aces announced their roster spots ahead of tomorrow’s season opener. And now it’s official: Kate Martin has made the cut! She will be one of the 12 players suiting up for the 2x reigning champs! pic.twitter.com/4cCUCwML4j
— Owen Siebring (@owensiebring) May 13, 2024
While Las Vegas already had winnowed its roster to 12 players ahead of Monday's cut-down deadline, the team could have elected to carry 11 players instead, as it did last season. Instead, it went with the 12, keeping Martin on the team.
Martin had her first in-game opportunity to prove herself in the Aces' lone preseason game Saturday against the Puerto Rico women's national team.
The Aces used the game as a mix of preparation for the regular season and an extended tryout for those vying for a roster spot. Martin finished with five points and two assists in 10 minutes of playing time.
Dyaisha Fair’s assist gives Kate Martin her first WNBA three 😭❤️
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 11, 2024
pic.twitter.com/sXJXO2GqDt
The game was held at South Carolina's Colonial Life Arena, the alma mater of Aces star A'ja Wilson, who announced her signature shoe deal with Nike ahead of the game. Wilson also got Martin, who lost to South Carolina in the 2024 national title game, to come to the arena dripped out in Gamecocks gear.
Las Vegas Aces 2024 roster
The Aces have 12 players on their roster as of Monday, May 12.
The 12 players on the roster keep the Aces under the salary cap of $1,463,200 for the 2024 season.
| Player | 2024 salary |
| A'ja Wilson | $200,000 |
| Kelsey Plum | $200,000 |
| Chelsea Gray | $196,267 |
| Jackie Young | $169,950 |
| Alysha Clark | $110,000 |
| Kiah Stokes | $100,000 |
| Megan Gustafson | $94,000 |
| Emma Cannon | $76,535 |
| Sydeny Colson | $76,535 |
| Kierstan Bell | $74,398 |
| Dyaisha Fair* | $67,249 |
| Kate Martin* | $67,249 |
*2024 rookies
How old is Kate Martin?
Martin is 23 years old. She will turn 24 on June 5, 2024.
Kate Martin college stats
| Year | School | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3-PT% | FT% |
| 2019-20 | Iowa | 24 | 8.4 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 32.8% | 18.2% | 75.0% |
| 2020-21 | Iowa | 30 | 30.7 | 7.0 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 43.1% | 35.4% | 84.4% |
| 2021-22 | Iowa | 32 | 30.0 | 7.2 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 45.3% | 28.6% | 74.0% |
| 2022-23 | Iowa | 38 | 28.5 | 7.7 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 46.7% | 41.4% | 83.3% |
| 2023-24 | Iowa | 39 | 28.8 | 13.1 | 6.8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 50.7% | 37.0% | 86.4% |
