13/11/2026 4:36 PM
Hawkeyes college star Kate Martin arrives in WNBL
Kate Martin #21 of the Los Angeles Sparks handles the ball during the game against the Seattle Storm on July 6, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
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Just over four months ago Kate Martin and Jade Melbourne went head-to-head in the WNBA, now they'll hit the court together as WNBL teammates with the Bendigo Spirit.
Martin, who is most known for her time at the University of Iowa where she played alongside Caitlin Clark, arrived in Australia after signing as an injury replacement player for the Spirit following the announcement Abigail Wehrung will miss the rest of WNBL27 through pregnancy.
The 26-year-old guard most recently spent the past WNBA season with both the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky after stints with the Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces, where she was drafted with pick 18 in round two of the 2024 draft.
Martin joins a Spirit side which is winless after five games but is boosted by her addition as well as the return of defending WNBL MVP and Atlanta Dream star Isobel Borlase.
Her impressive college career included two trips to the NCAA National Championship game alongside Clark and Lucy Olsen, who won a WNBL championship last season with the Townsville Fire, where the Iowa Hawkeyes lost both years - one to Angel Reese and LSU and then South Carolina in 2024.
"I'm very excited. Shocked I could sleep on the plane because I've just been so excited to get out here," Martin said when interviewed by the WNBL on her arrival in Melbourne.
"This is something I've been looking forward to and have always honestly wanted to do and so I'm really excited looking forward to it.
"I've just heard great things about the WNBL in general and just the talent level that's here and I want to push myself in a different way and then what attracted me to Bendigo was the people.
"I've heard amazing things about just the culture here and the player development here.
"I don't really know what my expectations are right now you know I have some goals but mainly I just want to you know develop, have fun, enjoy playing basketball and you know looking forward to making new friends and building new relationships."
Should Martin suit up on Saturday, she and the Spirit have a tough task ahead of them to record their first win of WNBL27 when they host the 5-1 Sydney Flames at Red Energy Arena at 3pm.
