When Kate Martin arrived in the W, she already had a lot of publicity because of her 100+ games alongside Caitlin Clark for Iowa in college. But after Martin came to the W, she carved her own steady role, and it sparkled in her sophomore year. Appearing in 42 games for Valkyries, she averaged 6.2 points with 2.7 rebounds. And that’s exactly how she, as a rival, helped GVS, the only team Indy didn’t defeat during the 2025 season. But has the college bond faded a bit with 2 different teams? Well, Martin has answered that!

Speaking at a rapid Q&A session, Martin was asked about her favorite person other than herself. And she didn’t even take a moment to think before replying, “Caitlin Clark.” So yes, the bond hasn’t changed even a bit. After all, the two built this close friendship over the four years they played 139 games together for the Iowa Hawkeyes of the NCAA.

Well, the process was quite simple. While CC was hitting three-pointers from the logo en route to breaking the NCAA career scoring record, Martin was glued to the Hawkeyes as a defensive specialist. And that’s how they both helped Iowa make four consecutive tournament appearances, including two Final Fours in a row. But their connection wasn’t limited to the court; they were part of each other’s unforgettable moments even off it.

When Caitlin Clark’s name was called on draft night, her longtime friend Kate Martin was right there in the crowd at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, cheering her on. Moments later, Martin’s own name was announced as the 18th overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces. Two best friends, drafted into the WNBA on the same night, are now rivals on the court. Still, their bond was clear when they faced each other for the first time as Clark greeted Martin with a playful b– slap.

“So, we’re just really grateful that we’re in this position… It’s pretty cool to experience that with your best friend,” she said after the June 25th game last year. That’s how genuine friendship looks and a reflection of the kind of bond Martin’s got with CC – but you could say it’s a step up. Mainly because now Martin’s also got Clark’s 2024 Prizm Prizm Ice No. 145 – something she ripped out of the 2024 Panini Prizm WNBA cards live on social media.

“Let’s go!” she shouted at the camera – after all, she knew it was precious. According to Card Ladder, CC’s card was recently sold for $290 on October 12th and fetched as much as $865 during the April 2nd sale. But for Martin, it would be even more special – and leaning into her excitement, CC later commented, “I’ll sign it for you, hun.” With CC’s autographs adding four-digit value, Martin can definitely shout, CC’s her favorite person. It’s a joke – they’re best friends and love each other.

Sorry, Kate Martin, Caitlin Clark already has her number one

The only person at the top of the list is CC’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery. And no, we’re not saying this – CC herself penned it on her two-year anniversary with Connor. She marked the occasion by posting a couple of sweet moments the two shared last year with the caption, “Another year with my favorite person 🙂 I’m so thankful for you 🖤🖤.”

But for sure, Martin wouldn’t be jealous of him. After all, it’s a pure love story. She’s been a witness to the bond that grew over the years after the couple met as Iowa Hawkeyes, playing for the women’s and men’s basketball teams. And despite them pursuing their own career paths, the bond hasn’t wavered a bit. Even now, they take out time for each other.

The duo is often seen publicly as the cameras chase them all throughout, and one of those notable presences was during the WNBA All-Star. While Connor makes it to the sidelines of Indiana Fever games, CC often went to support the Butler Bulldogs last offseason. And when they’re together, you can often see them sharing laughs courtside. Well, that’s exactly what makes their relationship so special, right?