Will Kate Martin make Las Vegas Aces roster? Where Iowa guard stands ahead of WNBA season

Will Kate Martin make Las Vegas Aces roster? Where Iowa guard stands ahead of WNBA season.

 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 must finalize their opening day roster for the 2024 season by Monday, May 13. Will Martin make the cut?

Will Kate Martin make the Las Vegas Aces roster?

Martin has not officially made the cut for the Aces’ opening day roster just yet.

While Las Vegas already has winnowed its roster to 12 players ahead of Monday’s cut-down deadline, the team could choose to carry 11 players instead, as it did last season. The team also could monitor the waiver wire and pick up players cut from other teams.

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. Video below!

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 Saturday, May 11, but they could opt to keep just 11 to maintain salary cap space. That’s what the team did in 2023, choosing to rely on its stars to play extra minutes.

This year, though, the team has more breathing room. Even with the 12 players on the preseason roster, the Aces would be under the salary cap of $1,463,200 for the 2024 season.

Kate Martin Has Social Media Buzzing After Aces’ White House Visit

 

Kate Martin wasn’t with the Las Vegas Aces when they won their second straight WNBA title in 2023, but the former Iowa star is celebrating with her new teammates nonetheless.

On Thursday, Martin made the trip to the White House with her Las Vegas veterans.

Martin is a fan-favorite among this year’s stacked class of rookie talent. As such, her appearance alongside the reigning WNBA champs has social media buzzing.

“Kate martin lookin so good,” one fan wrote.

“Kate martin for president,” another said.

“Kate Martin in a suit IM SEATED,” another added.

Martin was selected by the Aces with the No. 18 overall pick in this year’s draft. As the start of the WNBA regular season quickly approaches, it appears the former Hawkeye is well on her way to securing a final roster spot.

Earlier this week, Aces superstar Kelsey Plum vouched for Martin.

“Kate Martin is awesome. Kate Martin picks up things so quickly, she’s an amazing sponge,” Plum said. “I think Becky nicknamed her Kate ‘Money’ Martin. I think that’s gonna stick.

“And when I say ‘money,’ it’s not just about scoring and stuff, she’s just in the right place at the right time. She just makes people better. And that’s what Becky values, that’s what our coaching staff values and that’s why she’s gonna be a great asset to our team.”