USA Today via Reuters
The 2024 WNBA season is getting right around the corner with the training camps already underway. In only two days, the first preseason contest will be held. Moreover, the season kicks off in mid-May. However, there is a lot to do for the teams and athletes to undergo a good grind. On the other hand, Kate Martin, the rookie for the Las Vegas Aces is feeling heavenly to have around the 2x champions as her teammates.
Hence, the journey towards the third straight win began today for the Aces. Exploring more about their first day, let’s hear it from Kate Martin.
Kate Martin feeling pumped on her first day
Putting their season into first gear, the Aces have set off on their journey to possibly their third consecutive team win. Moreover, this time they have added two more arrows in their quiver in Kate Martin and Dyaisha Fair.
Kate Martin describes her first professional training experience with her team, saying, “It’s crazy because I’ve been looking up to these players for so long and to coach Hammon for so long.
And so, to be alongside them right now, you know, it’s it’s a little surreal but um just how hard they go. They never take a rep off, and uh you know I want to keep that mentality and, you know, I just want to add to their success.
I never want to take away. So, they’ve been super helpful with uh everything, you know, I’ve had a lot of questions and they’re answering and they’ve been super inviting with open arms. So, uh you know, I’m just trying to emulate everything that they do.”
Martin amassed 1299 points, 756 rebounds, 473 assists, 148 steals, and 70 blocks during her four years at Iowa. Now that she will be playing for the Aces, that’s another incoming trailblazer season for the team, with the presence of a learning curve on the way.
Meanwhile, Dyaisha Fair too has some insights. Elaborating her perspective as one of the rookies on the team she says, “Basically, to not you know get down on yourself about a mistake is new, everything’s new.
I’m not the only one here that doesn’t know anything or know what’s going on really. And, you know, just to have fun. That’s the main thing and be myself is what they’ve been telling me to do,” as her teammates ask her to be just herself.
Dyaisha is one of the top 25 scorers in the NCAA and amassed a total of 3403 career points in four years of college. As she is now part of the Aces team, their roster’s headcount in that category has increased to three, the first two being Alysha Clark and Kelsey Plum.
When will the Aces be playing their season opener?
Although the upcoming season will be a short one with just 40 games, the enthusiasm has stayed intact in fans, rather, it has gone northwards only.
Given the athletes, the opening night for the 2024 season is set to take place on May 14th with four back-to-back firestarter matchups namely, New York Liberty hosted by Washington Mystics, Indiana Fever hosted by Connecticut Suns, Phoenix Mercury hosted by the Las Vegas Aces, and Minnesota Lynx hosted by Seattle Storm.
The reason behind this season’s cut-short length is the mid-season Olympics break, where the players will be representing their countries in Paris. This time, team USA will be aiming for its 8th consecutive gold medal.
