Kate Martin’s journey from Edwardsville to the WNBA is recognized as one of the “25 Athletes in 25 Years.” An athlete from our hometown occasionally serves as a reminder of the original reason we fell in love with sports. Kate Martin of Edwardsville received that honor this week when The Telegraph named her one of its “25 Athletes in 25 Years,” acknowledging her incredible journey from local star to WNBA player with the Golden State Valkyries.
This type of recognition speaks as much about a community as it does about the individual player. Despite Edwardsville’s longstanding pride in its basketball heritage, Martin’s story seems unique. She wasn’t always the most impressive player on the court or the biggest recruit in her high school class. She was and continues to be unrelenting. Martin was known as “The Glue” at Iowa because of the way she kept the Hawkeyes united both on and off the court.
She stood shoulder to shoulder with superstar Caitlin Clark during those deep NCAA Tournament runs, and fans remember her tenacity because she never shied away from the limelight but also never needed it. She was the type of teammate who was as loud in her celebration of assists as she was of points.
The WNBA has easily adopted that mindset. Although Martin doesn’t always contribute to the box score, she has grown to be an essential component of the Valkyries. She is already a fan favorite because of her hustle plays, communication, and consistent presence. Furthermore, Martin has established an identity based on the same principles that brought her this far: perseverance and trust, in a league where young players can occasionally get lost in the shuffle.
Although there are many well-known athletes with illustrious careers on the 25 Athletes in 25 Years list, Martin’s inclusion highlights the value of tenacity and genuineness.
Not only does she represent Edwardsville, but she also serves as a reminder to all the kids who may not be the tallest or fastest in the game that they can still succeed if they are prepared to overcome their doubts. For Martin, the honor is more about appreciation than it is about making headlines. She recently stated, “Without Edwardsville, I wouldn’t be here.” Actually, without her, Edwardsville wouldn’t be the same.
