What Are Kate Martin’s Net Worth, Salary, Family, Partner, College and WNBA Stats

As a young prospect, Kate Martin has been turning some heads with her on-court finesse and charm as a player. Though many may have different or even conflicting opinions on the Golden State Valkyries guard, one can never deny that Martin was special entering the league. Selected as the 18th overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in 2024, Martin spent six years playing NCAA basketball with the University of Iowa before declaring for the WNBA draft in 2024. This article delves deeper into Martin’s early life, high school and collegiate career, net worth, WNBA career stats, and some lesser-known facts about her personal and social life. 

Kate Martin Personal Information:

Kate Martin Personal Life 

Early Life and Family Background

Kate Martin was born on June 5, 2000, to teachers Matt Martin and Jill Martin. She is the youngest of Matt and Jill Martin’s three children and grew up in Granite City and Edwardsville in Illinois, USA.

Martin’s introduction to basketball was at age 5 when she was participating in recreational leagues and playing pickup games at the local YMCA.

Over the years, basketball became an obsession for young Martin, who frequently attended basketball camps at the University of Iowa every summer. Such was her obsession with the game that young Kate even used to sleep with an Iowa women’s basketball poster above her childhood bed.

Martin’s dad, Matt Martin, was one of her first coaches and coached her and her siblings’ basketball teams until the seventh grade. 

Besides basketball, Martin also used to play boys’ tackle football and volleyball and was coached by her dad, Matt Martin. As a volleyball player in her middle school, Martin led her team to win the 2013 seventh-grade IESA Class 4A state championship in straight sets.

She alternated between playing volleyball and basketball and led her middle school basketball team to the 2012 IESA Class 4A championship game, where they lost by 3 points.

In 2013, Martin was part of her middle school basketball team, which went on to win the state championship with an undefeated 28-0 season. Furthermore, her volleyball team was also placed third in the same year at the eighth-grade state championship.

She went on to play varsity basketball for Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois, under head coach Lori Blade. 

High School Career

During her freshman season in high school, Martin did not get many minutes on the court. Coming off the bench, the future Hawkeye averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. However, her game evolved, and she became a starter for the Tigers for the remaining three years in Edwardsville. 

In her junior year, Martin crossed 1,000 career points and averaged 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. The Tigers finished their 2016-17 season with a 32-1 record, reaching the Class 4A state championship, where they lost against Geneva Community High School by a point lead. After a stellar junior season, Martin was named as an AP All-State honorable mention. 

During her senior year, Martin averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 63.9 percent from the field, 50.9 percent from the deep, and 80 percent from the free-throw line. 

As the Edwardsville Tigers’ captain, Martin had a commendable run, leading the team to their fourth SWC, regional, and sectional titles and second consecutive super-sectional title. 

The Tigers finished the 2017-18 season with a 30-2 record and reached the Class 4A semifinal, finishing fourth in postseason tournament play. Some of Martin’s notable achievements in her senior year are as follows: 

• Led the Tigers in most points, rebounds, and assists in her senior year
• Finished her high school basketball career with the fourth-most points in Edwardsville High School history (1,518) 
• Named AP Class 4A All-State First Team 
• Named IBCA Class 4A All-State First Team 

Throughout her high school career, Martin received offers from several NCAA Division I basketball programs such as Bradley, DePaul, Illinois, St. Louis, and Wisconsin. However, given her affinity towards the University of Iowa and the Hawkeyes since childhood, she was determined to choose the Hawkeyes for her collegiate career. 

As per a report by Quad-City Times, Kate once wrote a letter to her future self that would be opened only after she graduated high school. In that, she wrote, “Hi Kate. When you’re reading this, I hope you have committed to play basketball at the University of Iowa.” 

Interestingly, Iowa already tried recruiting Kate during her junior year to fill in as a shooting guard or a small forward for the Hawkeyes. In May 2017,  she announced on Twitter (now X) that she had verbally committed to the University of Iowa and had received a full athletic scholarship by November of that year.

 Though Martin was rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN, joining the Hawkeyes was always the goal, which was something that she was able to achieve by the end of her high school career. 

College Career 

Kate Martin had one of the best college careers in her current draft class, playing alongside future WNBA superstars such as Caitlin Clark. Martin marked her collegiate debut on November 7, 2019, in a win over Florida Atlantic. In her freshman year, she did not get many minutes on the court and averaged only 8.1 minutes off the bench.

She eventually became a starter alongside freshman Caitlin Clark in her sophomore year, starting all 30 games and being named the team captain for the Hawkeyes. Despite an injury breaking her nose, Martin posted her first career double-double for Iowa, posting a career-best 19 points (with 5/5 three-pointers), 11 assists and five rebounds.

In her sophomore season, Martin’s stellar performance earned her the following personal accolades: 

• Academic All-Big Ten team 
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
• Iowa 2021 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award

In her junior season, Martin was once again named the team captain for the Hawkeyes. She was a starter in all 32 games for Iowa alongside Caitlin Clark and helped the Hawkeyes earn the Big Ten regular season championship title.

In the 2022 Big Ten tournament, Martin averaged 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. After qualifying for the 2022 NCAA Tournament after their Big Ten title, the Hawkeyes faced the Greensboro Region as a second-seed team. However, in the second round, the Hawkeyes faced an upset against the 10th-seed Creighton, shattering their hopes for a national championship.

Martin finished her junior year with a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honor (for maintaining a 4.0 GPA during the academic term) and was named to the University of Iowa Dean’s List. 

In her senior year, Martin averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, shooting 46.7% from the field and 41.4 from the deep. She was also selected for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the third time.

Martin helped the Hawkeyes win another Big Ten Tournament in 2023, earning themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament of that year. After defeating Colorado and Louisville in Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, the Hawkeyes progressed to the Final Four for the first time since 1993.

The Final Four was also another win in the books for the Hawkeyes, marking their first entry to the national championship game. However, Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin’s Hawkeyes fell short against Angel Reese and co’s LSU, thus shattering their hopes of winning a national championship. 

Kate Martin’s graduate year was particularly memorable as it etched her name as one of the greatest college hoop legends in women’s basketball. Martin averaged 13.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 50.7% from the field.

Furthermore, Martin marked an incredible landmark by starting 139 consecutive games for the Hawkeyes, the longest streak in Division I basketball in the last 25 years.

Martin finished her college career at Iowa with 1,299 points, 756 rebounds, and 473 in 163 games. Once again, Martin and Caitlin Clark led the Hawkeyes to another NCAA championship run, only to end as runner-ups after facing an upset against South Carolina in an 87-75 loss. 

Here is a complete breakdown and summary of Kate Martin’s impressive college career: 

Kate Martin Girlfriend

Kate Martin is dating Claire Gransee, whom she met during their time at the University of Iowa. Martin and Gransee went public about their relationship in June 2024, and both can often be seen posting adorable updates and posts about their relationship on social media. According to The US Sun, Martin confirmed her relationship status by replying to a fan on TikTok. 

Gransee graduated from Iowa with a major in Communication Studies and minors in Law and Media Literacy in 2024.

As per her LinkedIn profile, Gransee currently works as a Human Resources Associate at Publicis Sapient as of November 2024. The couple was seen spending the WNBA break together, as evidenced by their social media posts. 

Kate Martin Social Media handles 

The following are the social media handles Kate Martin can be found active in: 

Kate Martin Offcourt and social presence 

Kate Martin was always a solid presence in the Iowa Hawkeyes locker room, even for her coach, Lisa Bluder, who described her as “The Glue” of their team before the start of the 2021-22 season.

This nickname stuck with her throughout her college career. As per the Daily Iowan, Bluder remarked after the 2022 post-game conference, “Kate’s always been the glue—and people overlook Kate. She holds this team together. She’s our captain, she’s our leader, she’s somebody we look to.”

On April 2024, Martin appeared in the closing credits of Saturday Night Live alongside her Iowa teammates Caitlin Clark, Gabbie Marshall, and Jada Gyamfi. 

In May 2024, after a game against the Atlanta Dream, Martin suggested that her fans be called “The Martinis.” This statement was immediately well-received by her fans, who were delighted when RAYGUN and Martin collaborated to release a “Martini” fan club T-shirt. 

Kate Martin Net Worth 

Though Kate Martin’s net worth is unconfirmed, her source of income and wealth remains from her WNBA contract and various brand endorsements. After getting drafted by the Las Vegas Aces, Martin signed a 4-year $297,045 contract, per Spotrac. This would have earned her an average salary of $74,261 in her rookie year and a base salary of $67,249 with a cap hit of $67,249. 

In 2024, the Vegas Aces encountered a unique situation when each player was offered $100,000 bonus payments by the Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority (LVCVA). The authority’s CEO, Steve Hill, structured the deal in a manner similar to the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals for collegiate athletes.

This unprecedented sponsorship from a relatively unrelated entity for all Aces players sparked controversy in the league, urging the WNBA to launch an investigation against the Aces. 

ALSO READ: Caitlin Clark’s Rookie of the Year: The Best 10 Defining Moments

Kate Martin Salary 

As per Spotrac, Martin signed a four-year $297,045 rookie scale contract with her previous team, Las Vegas Aces. In her first WNBA season in 2024, Martin earned $67,249. She was recently drafted to the Golden State Valkyries in the 2024 WNBA expansion draft and is set to receive $68,595 in her second WNBA season in 2025. 

Kate Martin Endorsements and Earnings

As per ES, Kate Martin’s NIL valuation was estimated at around $73,000. She has partnered with several Iowa-based brands, such as HEYDUDE Shoes, and has signed deals with Estela’s Fresh Mex, Mel Foster Co., RAYGUN, and Zimmerman Honda.

In September 2024, Martin also announced a partnership with American Eagle Outfitters via her social media handles. She also appeared in a TikTok ad campaign for TOGETHXR and Alfac alongside Aces’ teammate Sydney Colson.

Kate Martin Career Stats 

WNBA

Kate Martin was drafted in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft as the 18th overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces. Many fans were surprised when Martin was moved to the newly-formed Golden State Valkyries franchise in the 2025 WNBA draft.

As per the WNBA’s statistics, Martin appeared in 34 games for the Las Vegas Aces, averaging only 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 11.5 minutes per game in her rookie WNBA season. She shot 30.7% from the field, 35.5% from the deep, and 91.7% from the FT line.

Unrivalled 

In October 2024, Martin announced that she would be playing in the inaugural season of the new 3×3 women’s basketball league, Unrivalled. This league was founded by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, featuring six teams. Martin plays alongside veteran guard Kayla McBride for team Laces BC and faces the likes of fellow rookie Angel Reese going head-to-head against her. 

Kate Martin Injury Update 

During her rookie season with the Aces in July 2024, Kate Martin suffered a bruised Achilles tendon injury. This injury was not a major concern, and Martin was expected to return and continue playing in the WNBA season. This injury occurred during a game against the Chicago Sky when she suffered a noncontact injury to her lower leg and had to be taken off the court. 

Martin had enough time to recover as the injury occurred during the WNBA’s four-week Olympic break. She returned to practice three weeks after the injury. However, this injury was detrimental to her rookie season as it took much of her momentum away, and fans started noticing that her playing time with the Aces was dwindling. 

Kate Martin Contract 

As per Spotrac, Martin signed a 4-year rookie contract with the Las Vegas Aces worth $297,045. This includes an average annual salary of $74,261. In 2025, Martin will earn a base salary of $68 595, with a cap hit of $68,595.

Here is a complete breakdown of the contract

Kate Martin Achievements

The following are the accolades earned by Kate Martin through the course of her collegiate and professional career 

• 2021 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award
• Second Team All-Big Ten

Conclusion

Kate Martin still has much to prove and cement herself as a WNBA star, like her contemporaries such as Caitlin Clark. It is undeniable that Martin has etched herself as a college hoops legend, given her invaluable contributions to the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, much is left to be proven in her professional career, especially since her loss of form after her lower leg injury. 

Perhaps next season could be a ray of hope for the sophomore guard in the 2025 WNBA season. Playing in a 3×3 league like Unrivalled can help her regain momentum and return with much better form to start a new beginning with the Valkyries in the Bay area.