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It was an Iowa ladies’s basketball social gathering Saturday night time in Las Vegas, and for as soon as, Caitlin Clark did not end as the principle attraction.
It was Kate Martin who stole the present.
The Aces rookie delivered 12 factors and 7 rebounds whereas taking part in a game-high 22 bench minutes, serving to propel the Aces to a 99-80 win over Clark’s Indiana Fever.
Together with her former Iowa coaches Jan Jensen, Lisa Bluder and Jenni Fitzgerald, together with their households, all sitting courtside, Martin led the best way in a matchup that put her, Clark and former Iowa star and Aces reserve Megan Gustafson all on the ground on the similar time.
Clark completed with eight factors, seven assists and 5 rebounds to go along with six turnovers, taking part in 29 minutes whereas the Fever completed a brutal scheduling stretch. Clark drained a pair of deep 3-pointers for her solely discipline targets of the night time. Gustafson had one rebound in eight minutes whereas trying one trey.
Now, clearly these two franchises are in very completely different spots, asking the respective former Hawkeyes on their roster to shoulder very completely different expectations. Clark continues to push via rising pains as a WNBA rookie on a rebuilding staff. Martin and Gustafson have latched on with the two-time defending champs and play necessary roles off the bench.
Nonetheless, Saturday created the right scene for Martin to take middle stage.
She checked in with roughly three minutes remaining within the first quarter and instantly guarded Clark for a number of possessions. Two completely different rebound alternatives noticed the 2 pals and former teammates chase after unfastened balls. Martin acquired prolonged second-half run as properly and took benefit with a second trey plus a troublesome basket and free throw. She had Clark on her a number of instances bringing the ball up the court docket and inbounding.
Bluder joined TV broadcasters Carolyn Peck and Krista Blunk in the course of the first half, then Martin joined them postgame to dissect the particular night time some extra.
“It is fairly cool when your school coaches are sitting courtside proper subsequent to the bench,” Martin mentioned on the postgame present. “Las Vegas simply has a enjoyable surroundings right here. It is a actually enjoyable staff to be part of. I am grateful to be part of this group and have the fan help that we do right here. And it is cool that a number of Hawkeye nation may come out as properly.”
As for dealing with Clark?
“It was bizarre,” Martin mentioned with amusing. “I am not going to lie.
“Simply looking on the court docket and seeing her in a unique jersey than me, it was clearly completely different. Nevertheless it’s actually enjoyable. We’re each dwelling out our goals proper now, and we each get to compete on the highest stage. So we’re each actually grateful for that chance.”
The Fever and Aces face one another three extra instances this season — July 2 in Vegas, then Sept. 11 and 13 in Indianapolis — so Clark will get her possibilities to reply again. “The Glue,” although, took spherical one.
“She’s the last word teammate, the last word individual, final chief,” Clark mentioned earlier than Saturday’s sport. “She’s going to do no matter she will for her staff, only a tremendous unselfish individual. … She has a persona about her, and she or he was my teammate, but in addition certainly one of my greatest pals. So, I have been fortunate.”
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