Follow us on Google Discover Chicago Sky guard Kate Martin shared her insight into Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark’s mindset from their shared time together in college.
Martin was one of Clark’s key teammates on the Iowa Hawkeyes, with the pair declaring for the WNBA Draft together in 2024.
While Clark was the No. 1 pick to the Fever, Martin went in the second round to the Las Vegas Aces. Few players in the WNBA have the kind of insight into Clark that Martin does.
Caitlin Clark’s mindset elevates entire teams, according to Kate Martin
Martin appeared on WNBA legend Sue Bird’s podcast, ‘Bird’s Eye View,’ and discussed how Clark’s mindset raised the level of their entire team, with her work ethic becoming a shining example.
“She was in the gym constantly, and the way she approached everything was with a sort of excellence. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I’m just going to go through the motions.’ It was like, ‘No, I’m here to kick your butt in every single drill, every single practice.’”
“If you’re across from me, you’re my enemy, you know? And I think that’s just kind of how you have to approach things to get better. She had that next-level mindset, and it really just raised us all up with her.”
WNBA player Kate Martin shares Caitlin Clark’s ruthless work ethic and the exact mindset that elevated an entire team
“She was in the gym constantly, and the way she approached everything was with a sort of excellence. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I’m just going to go through the… pic.twitter.com/WWZSBpE019
— Caleb (@Calebksl) September 2, 2026
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While the original quote is from 2025, it rings even truer now as the Fever look to make another run in the WNBA Playoffs with Clark having a historic season.
Caitlin is averaging 22.5 points and 8.4 assists this season, setting WNBA records with her incredible offensive production.
Martin was on the Hawkeyes from 2019 to 2024, playing alongside Clark for her entire college tenure and watching her develop into the greatest college scorer in NCAA basketball history.
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Martin is on her fourth team since being drafted by the Aces, also playing for the Valkyries and Sparks before joining the Sky.
Clark’s mindset of treating teammates like enemies in practice to bring the best out of herself and them must be effective.
It hasn’t been in games against Martin, though, as Clark is averaging 10.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in four career games against the 26-year-old’s different teams.
Martin’s WNBA career has not been as glamorous as Clark’s, but the pair needed each other for the accomplishments they had for the Iowa Hawkeyes in college.
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