Women's Fastbreak On SI

Kate Martin's Cryptic Comment Sparks Unrivaled League Rumors

A recent comment Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin made has fans wondering whether we'll see her playing in Miami this summer.

Grant Young

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

If somebody had told Kate Martin one year ago that she'd spend 2024 playing for the two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, she would not have believed them.

Martin spent six seasons at the University of Iowa with no expectations of playing professional basketball afterward. But after a stellar Hawkeyes 2023-24 season alongside Caitlin Clark, the Aces drafted Martin with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Then Martin carved out a role for herself coming off the Aces' bench; and in doing so, appears to have solidified herself on Las Vegas' roster.

And a comment Martin made on an August 6 episode of 'Fresh Tawk' (hosted by former Hawkeye Jada Gyamfi) suggests that the rookie might be playing in another professional basketball league this winter.

"Do you have to get a job in the offseason?" Gyamfi asked Martin.

"No, I don't have to get a job in the offseason," Martin replied.

The two former teammates then joked about Gyamfi's question for a few moments before Martin added, "Here's the thing... I'm not going to be getting another job, but I will be doing another basketball job.

"Like, a different...," Martin added before stopping herself from speaking further.

This cryptic comment has fans wondering whether Martin will be taking part in the new 'Unrivaled' league, which is a 3x3 basketball league started by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier that begins in January 2025 and will take place in Miami, Florida.

30 WNBA players are set to compete in the league; all of whom will be receiving the largest individual salaries in women's professional sports league history.

And Martin's words are making fans wonder whether she'll be one of the 30 women competing.

Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese has already been announced as an Unrivaled participant, and many fans are surely hoping Martin's former teammate Caitlin Clark joins the new league as well.

While Martin may not be one of the WNBA 30 best players yet, she's certainly one of its biggest names. Therefore, Martin's inclusion in Unrivaled would make sense.

While Martin may have been referring to something else entirely, perhaps we'll still see her competing on the hardwood after the Aces season ends.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.