Kate Martin: Biography, Basketball Career & Net Worth

Kate Martin: Biography, Basketball Career & Net Worth

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Kate Martin is a WNBA guard best known as the captain of the Iowa Hawkeyes teams that reached back-to-back national title games alongside Caitlin Clark. Her pro career since has taken her from the Las Vegas Aces to the Golden State Valkyries, and in 2026 to the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky. Here’s a fact-checked look at Kate Martin’s career and what’s confirmed about her earnings.

Quick Facts

Full NameKate Marie Martin
BornJune 5, 2000, in Edwardsville, Illinois
Age26 (as of 2026)
Height6’0″ (183 cm), per Basketball Reference
PositionGuard
CollegeIowa Hawkeyes (2019–2024)
WNBA Draft2024, second round (18th overall), Las Vegas Aces
WNBA TeamsLas Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky
Net WorthNot publicly disclosed — treat any online estimate as unverified

Note: WNBA rosters change quickly, especially in the offseason, so check her current team before publishing.

Kate Martin Early Life and High School

Kate Martin grew up in Edwardsville, Illinois, and was a regular at University of Iowa basketball camps from elementary school, sleeping under an Iowa women’s basketball poster as a kid. At Edwardsville High School she earned Class 4A All-State fourth-team honors from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. She was first recruited by Division I programs during her sophomore year, and after an official visit to Iowa she called the coaching staff from the car ride home to commit. One report also says she tore her left ACL in practice in 2018 and missed the following season.

Kate Martin Captain at Iowa Beside Caitlin Clark

Martin attended Iowa between 2019-2024 and was a team captain for all four of those years. In that time she was teammates with two-time player of the year Caitlin Clark. During her tenure, Iowa made back-to-back appearances in the National Championship game in 2023 and 2024. Martin earned the moniker “The Glue” due to her tendency to be the glue for teams she was on and the respect that she earned from many college basketball coaches throughout the country.

Kate Martin WNBA: Aces, Valkyries, Sparks and Sky

The Las Vegas Aces selected Martin with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and in her first season in the league, she played in 34 games and averaged 2.6 points per game. The Golden State Valkyries chose Martin in the 2024 expansion draft from the Aces. She had a breakout first season in her new home, averaging 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 22 games and 4 starts.

She made her presence known in the Golden State area as she helped the team to their first playoff berth and was the favorite of her new team, the Valkyries. Her first coach with her new team, Natalie Nakase, lauded Martin’s toughness, smarts on the floor, and hard work.

In 2026, things got bumpy for Martin again. On May 7, only a day before opening night, Golden State cut her after she had a Grade II strain of her right quad on April 28. She then landed with the Los Angeles Sparks on a development deal and later joined the Chicago Sky, the team Wikipedia lists her with for 2026. She also plays for Breeze BC in the three-on-three league Unrivaled.

Kate Martin Net Worth and Earnings

As with every profile we publish, it’s worth separating what’s confirmed from what’s speculation. Kate Martin’s WNBA salary, Unrivaled pay, and any endorsement income have not been publicly disclosed in detail. Net worth numbers on profile sites don’t cite a source, so any figure attached to her name should be treated as an unverified estimate.

Fun Facts

  • She captained Iowa for four seasons and played in two national championship games.
  • She was picked from the Aces’ roster by the Valkyries in the 2024 expansion draft.
  • She wore No. 20 for Golden State and became a favorite of the franchise’s first fan base.

The Bottom Line

Kate Martin’s career shows how far toughness and role-playing can carry a player: a four-year captain at Iowa, a draft pick, an expansion-team fan favorite, and a guard fighting for her place after a rocky 2026. For more women’s basketball profiles, read our pieces on Paige Bueckers and Cameron Brink. Career details here draw on Wikipedia, Basketball Reference, and Hawk Central.

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