A’ja Wilson to miss Caitlin Clark’s best friend as Aces star set to join WNBA expansion team
A'ja Wilson's mentee and Caitlin Clark's best friend Kate Martin was selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA expansion draft.
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Caitlin Clark will play against her best friend Kate Martin as a Golden State Valkyries after being drafted from A'ja Wilson's Aces
When Caitlin Clark came into the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, little did she expect her best friend and former Iowa Hawkeyes teammate Kate Martin would also be drafted. Her running mate went to the Las Vegas Aces and spent a season learning from league MVP A’ja Wilson.
Now as she was looking towards playing in the Unrivaled League and preparing for year two, she and all WNBA players were watching the first expansion draft take place in 16 years. When it came to pick from the Las Vegas Aces, the Golden State Valkyries selected their rookie.
Head coach Natalie Nakase went with Martin, knowing all too well what she brings to the table along with her potential. After all she coached her in her rookie season when Nakase was the assistant coach with the Aces.
But this news was met with disappointment from her now former colleagues as the 24-year-old was much loved by all her teammates and was also a massive crowd favorite. Most notably, her mentor A’ja Wilson had these words to tell her mentee:
My baby (sad emoji), soooo happy for you (love emoji), you are a gem.
A’ja Wilson wrote on Instagram
She added another caption at the bottom of the story that read:
Now we gotta give you and Nat 50.
A’ja Wilson on Instagram
The last sentence was some banter the WNBA MVP threw at her now former teammate as well as coach, as Wilson will face them next season as an opponent. A’ja Wilson’s side will play them at their home on June 7th, whereas she will welcome them back on July 12th.
Caitlin Clark excited for Kate Martin’s new chapter with Valkyries
The Golden State Valkyries will start their time in the WNBA next season when they tip-off on May 16th. Kate Martin should not be expecting to play as a starter but should come off the bench. That role will also continue when her best friend Caitlin Clark will go to San Francisco on June 19th.
Let’s go Kater!!!!!
Caitlin Clark on Instagram
That was the reaction when Caitlin Clark understood that the person she was closest to for four years in college is now going to play for the Golden State Valkyries. With the Indiana Fever set to play in Chase Center first, Clark will also have one of her close former teammates, Temi Fagbenle, playing alongside Martin.
The Valkyries have a team assembled of players from other teams. But they will have a task at hand, knowing there will be a lack of least chemistry while starting things off. When facing playoff Clark and Wilson, the newest team on the block can expect a tough battle.
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Joseph Varghese
(2268 Articles Published)