Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin has been turning heads since she entered the league. Martin has been one of the top contributing rookies on both ends of the floor, despite being picked out of the stands in the 2024 WNBA draft.
She’s gone from a surprise first-round draft pick to an impact player on a championship roster.
In a previous postgame interview, Aces star Kelsey Plum gave Martin a nickname that has since lived on with the Iowa Hawkeyes product.
Martin entered the game late in the first quarter against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday and the announcers referred to her as “Kate Money Martin.”
Plum’s label for the rookie may just stick with Martin for the rest of her career.
Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
When her name was called in the contest against Diana Taurasi and the Mercury, Martin was greeted with a roaring ovation from the crowd, via Heavens FX on X.
She’s becoming a quick fan favorite in her short time in the league.
Angel Reese (Photo via WNBA/Twitter)
Angel Reese seemed to have found her “special whistle” because it certainly was not blown when it should’ve during her most recent game.
The Chicago Sky had just done something that no other player in WNBA history has ever done before, but her making history became a footnote to one play during Thursday’s game against the Dallas Wings.
With less than four minutes to go in the third quarter, Reese intercepted a pass and found herself all alone as she dribbled the other way for an easy layup.
The replay of this moment showed that the dynamic rookie got away with multiple double dribbles and quite possibly a traveling violation on this one single play.
Yet, no refs whistled the play dead.
Another view from that play showed Angel Reese laughing hysterically, as she likely knew she had gotten away with multiple violations.
SHE’S SPECIAL 
Angel Reese had a record-breaking performance today for the Chicago Sky:
16 PTS (7-13 FG)
18 REB (career-high)
8 OFF REB
3 AST
2 STL
ONLY rookie to ever record 7 consecutive double-doubles#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/0DCg4s4uYj
Fans wasted no time taking to the comments and blasting the refs as well as Reese for this blatant violation that went unwhistled:
Despite the mishap in this play, Angel Reese is starting to pave her way at the professional level, especially over the past month. Since June 1, she’s averaged 13.4 points per game with 12.8 rebounds.
Angel Reese Did Something No Other Player In WNBA History Has Done
Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese snagged a rebound and layup against the Dallas Wings on Thursday, and with that, she became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a double-double in seven consecutive games.
In the contest, Reese finished with astounding numbers, racking up 16 points and 18 rebounds as the Sky ended their four-game losing streak, per ESPN.com.
