LAS VEGAS — Of course Caitlin Clark talked trash. Kate Martin expected nothing less.

It was May 25, and the WNBA rookies − Clark of the Indiana Fever, Martin of the Las Vegas Aces − were matched against each other for the first time in their professional careers. Martin was trying to be serious. Clark wasn’t.

“Man, she’s not very good at basketball isn’t she?” Clark said to the official as he handed the ball to Martin, who suppressed a smile.

Later, it was Clark’s turn to smile. When the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft realized she was about to guard her best friend and former Iowa teammate, she couldn’t stop grinning. A photo of the moment went viral, the latest keepsake for the midwestern natives whose love of basketball has led them on a journey no one saw coming.

That they get to experience it together makes it that much sweeter.

“It’s so rare in this league for two people from the same team to both make it, unless you go to UConn or South Carolina or something, there’s so many of them in the league,” Martin told USA TODAY Sports, with a laugh. “It’s really nice to have one of your best friends going through a similar experience. She knows exactly what I mean every time I say something; it’s hard to talk to other friends (about the WNBA) because they just don’t understand our jobs.”
The two meet again Tuesday when the Aces host the Fever (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Sometimes it’s still unreal to Martin that this is her reality now.

“I never would have thought I’d be in this position,” she said. “I always knew Caitlin was going to change the world, but I’m super grateful to be here, too.”