The 2024 WNBA Draft was a significant moment for Caitlin Clark, who was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever after an unforgettable college career with the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, what seemed like a moment of pure triumph for Clark was tinged with a bit of sadness when her close friend and teammate, Kate Martin, was drafted. While Clark was understandably overjoyed by her own achievement, she couldn’t shake her disappointment at missing out on the moment when Martin was selected in the second round by the Las Vegas Aces.
Clark shared her feelings in a recent episode of Fresh Tawk with Jada Gyamfi, where she explained how the overwhelming nature of the draft left her unable to enjoy or capture the special moment of Martin’s selection. “I was sitting right next to Connor, but I was so upset,” Clark recalled. She had just been drafted and was whisked away for interviews, leaving her without the opportunity to watch or even document her teammate’s big moment. “I didn’t even get to see Kate get drafted. I went on my phone, and I saw someone had posted that Kate had been picked,” she explained, admitting how much it bothered her that she wasn’t there to witness it firsthand.
Kate Martin, who had no expectations of being drafted and had come to the event simply to support her friend, was taken by surprise when her name was called as the 18th overall pick. She had not anticipated this moment and could not contain her joy when it finally happened. Clark, who was caught up in the whirlwind of her own draft proceedings, was unable to capture the elation of the moment until later, when she finally got the chance to join her friends in the photo booth. She reflected on how the whole experience felt surreal, especially since she was separated from her family and couldn’t even share the experience with them in real-time.
For Clark, the emotion of the day was compounded by the fact that she was so focused on her own journey that she missed out on celebrating with Martin. While it was a special day for both players, Clark’s reaction reveals the challenges of navigating personal milestones in the glare of public attention. Despite her own monumental achievement, she felt a sense of loss not being able to share the joy of her teammate’s success as fully as she would have liked. “It was crazy because I didn’t even get to take pictures with you guys or my family,” Clark confessed. “I couldn’t talk to my mom or my sister or anybody.”
While Caitlin Clark had a historic run with the Hawkeyes, ending her college career as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history, her emotions on the day of the draft showed the human side of being in the spotlight. Though she’s been a central figure in the media’s coverage of women’s basketball, Clark didn’t allow the external pressures to overshadow her genuine love and care for her teammates. Her willingness to express her feelings of disappointment highlights the deeper, often unseen bonds that exist between athletes who have shared years of hard work, sacrifice, and triumphs together.
In the end, Caitlin Clark’s story is one of balancing personal achievement with deep camaraderie. While she might have missed out on celebrating Kate Martin’s draft moment in real-time, it’s clear that their friendship remains a key part of her journey. As time goes on, Clark and Martin will likely revisit these memories, cherishing the moments they shared and the remarkable paths they’re now embarking on in their professional careers.
