Who is Kate Martin? All about the Chicago Sky guard, her parents, ex-girlfriend and basketball journey

Kate Martin has continued her WNBA journey with the Chicago Sky after joining the team on a developmental contract in September 2026. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star has already played for several teams since entering the league and is now looking to make the most of another opportunity.Martin was selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She later played for the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks before joining Chicago. Away from basketball, Martin is also known for her close family connection to Iowa coach Jan Jensen and her previous relationship with fellow Iowa graduate Claire Gransee.Who is Kate Martin? Meet the Chicago Sky guardKate Martin is a professional basketball player from Moline, Illinois. She played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes and became one of the team’s leaders during her time in Iowa City.Martin spent five seasons with Iowa and played 163 games. She was a team captain for four seasons. She also shared the court with Caitlin Clark during Iowa’s historic run to the NCAA championship game in 2023 and 2024.Her WNBA career began in 2024 when the Las Vegas Aces selected her with the 18th overall pick in the second round.Martin then became part of the Golden State Valkyries for their inaugural 2025 season after being selected in the expansion draft.She later joined the Los Angeles Sparks in 2026. During her time with the Sparks, she averaged 2.3 points in 7.1 minutes per game across 17 appearances.Martin also made history with the Sparks by becoming the first player in franchise history to move from a developmental contract to a standard roster deal.After being waived by Los Angeles, Martin joined the Chicago Sky on a developmental contract on September 2, 2026. She made her Sky debut against the Toronto Tempo and finished with five points and one assist.Her debut also had a special family connection.Iowa head coach Jan Jensen, who previously coached Martin, is her aunt. Jensen has remained one of Martin’s biggest supporters throughout her basketball career.Martin’s parents, Matt and Jill Martin, have also supported her throughout her basketball journey. They were among those celebrating when she was drafted by the Aces in 2024.Away from basketball, Martin’s personal life has also attracted attention.She was previously in a relationship with Claire Gransee, another University of Iowa graduate. The couple publicly confirmed their relationship in 2024.Gransee studied Communication Studies at Iowa and later worked in human resources. However, the pair are no longer together. Fans noticed that Martin removed references to Gransee from her social media in late 2025.Gransee has since moved on and publicly appeared in a relationship with NWSL goalkeeper Shelby Hogan.For Martin, the focus now remains on basketball. After moving between multiple WNBA teams, her Chicago opportunity gave her another chance to establish herself in the league.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.