CAITLIN Clark’s name popped up on a WNBA broadcast despite her not even playing.
The Indiana Fever star has taken the popularity of women’s basketball to new levels dating back to her time in college.
Caitlin Clark in action against former college teammate Kate Martin during a game between the Indiana Fever and Golden State Valkyries[/caption]
Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin played together for the Iowa Hawkeyes[/caption]
Clark, 23, played for Iowa and helped the women’s NCAA Tournament set viewership records.
One of her teammates during the deep run in the competition now plays for the Golden State Valkyries.
Kate Martin, 25, landed on the WNBA expansion franchise this year.
She was drafted in the second round last year by the Las Vegas Aces.
And Martin scored a career-high 21 points in a game against the New York Liberty.
Valkyries announcer Derek Clark tried to talk up Martin’s ability on the broadcast.
And in doing so, he made a reference to the Fever superstar.
He said, “Everybody knows Kate Martin because she played with Caitlin Clark at Iowa.
“But people forget some of the games that Caitlin didnt have it.
“Especially in the tournament which is where Kate really made her name.
“Kate took over a lot of those games by herself.”
The remark was followed by an awkward silence on the broadcast.
Clark averaged 28.4 points per game during her college days.
She scored more than 30 points eight times in NCAA Tournament contests.
And there was just one tournament fixture where she failed to reach 20 points.
Martin, on the other hand, only had one NCAA Tournament game where she crossed the 20-point mark.
That was in the victory over Louisiana State University in the last eight in 2024.
Martin recorded 21 points in that game, while Clark hit 41.
The Valkyries star’s career high in all college games was 25 points.
The guard was a perfect complimentary piece to Clark in college and is off to a good start in her pro career.
But Clark won Rookie of the Year and was named an All-Star in 2024 after being selected No. 1 overall.
