They say friendships forged on the hardwood are unbreakable, and Las Vegas Aces’ guard Kate Martin is proving it true! Despite being on opposing WNBA teams, Martin couldn’t help but shower love on her former Iowa Hawkeyes teammate and current Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark with a sweet, three-word comment that pretty much sums up how all of us feel watching Clark dominate: “You amaze me.”
Of course, this was in response to Clark’s latest Instagram photo dump, which broke her social media silence after nearly a month (yes, Caitlin, we missed you too). The post featured a collage of game-day snaps from her feverish (pun intended) month of basketball as she led her Indiana Fever to clinch a playoff spot with a solid .500 record. Naturally, it took only a few seconds for Kate Martin to leap in with her comment, making it official—there’s no breaking this bond, not even if they have to face each other in the playoffs.
“Clark vs. Martin: The Best Friends Showdown We Never Knew We Needed”
While Caitlin Clark has been busy dropping dimes and draining threes all season (averaging 19.5 points, 8.4 assists, and some pretty jaw-dropping crossovers), Martin has had a quieter debut season. You know, when you’re playing for a team like the Aces, sitting on the bench isn’t exactly a vacation, but hey, someone’s got to be cheering A’ja Wilson on, right? Martin averaged 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds, but that didn’t stop her from being the ultimate hype woman for her pal Clark. And who needs a starting role when you’ve got a playoff-ready squad?
In a twist of irony that even Shakespeare couldn’t script, there’s a chance these two might clash in the WNBA playoffs. If Martin’s Aces move up to third seed, they’ll be facing Clark’s Fever in the first round. Bestie basketball battle? Sign us up!
The Reunion That Felt… Weird?
Before we start imagining game-winning shots and emotional post-game hugs, let’s rewind to last week when the two former Hawkeyes shared the court in a Fever vs. Aces double-header. Clark, ever the sharpshooter, had a little moment of reflection after the games, admitting that it was “weird” playing against her best friend. (Yeah, Caitlin, we imagine it’s awkward when you go from passing to your buddy in college to blocking her shots in the pros.)
But, no hard feelings! Clark still loved every second of it, reminiscing how cool it was for both of them to be living out their WNBA dreams, even if that meant going head-to-head. “It’s definitely fun for us,” Clark shared. “But weird too. We were teammates for four years! Now I’ve gotta guard her? What is this, some sort of basketball prank?”
Despite Clark’s Fever losing both games, she didn’t miss a beat, savoring the opportunity to share the court with Martin. The fans in the Midwest, who cheered the dynamic duo during their Hawkeye days, probably had a field day watching their favorites face off. Not every friendship can survive a competitive WNBA playoff race, but Clark and Martin? Built different.
The WNBA Playoff Picture: Will the Friends Turn to Frenemies?
With the regular season winding down, it’s all eyes on the playoff seeds. The Indiana Fever, with a record of 20-19, is holding onto their playoff hopes, while Martin’s Aces are sitting pretty at 25-13. If things go south for the Aces and they land the third seed, we could have the ultimate showdown of frenemies—Clark vs. Martin, Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces. Could Martin’s three-word Instagram tribute turn into a dagger three-pointer from Clark?
One thing’s for sure: We’ll be on the edge of our seats, waiting for the drama to unfold. Whether it’s on the court or on Instagram, these two have a special connection that can’t be beat. Here’s hoping Clark doesn’t make things too “weird” when she goes full MVP mode against her best friend.
In the meantime, we’ll keep checking Caitlin Clark’s Instagram for more wholesome content, more Kate Martin love, and hopefully, more playoff magic. Because if anyone can turn weird into wonderful, it’s these two.
Let the games—and the friendship drama—begin!