The Las Vegas Aces who have been winning WNBA for the last two years will resume their league campaign after a month-long Olympic break when they face New York Liberty today. While they have got stars like A’ja Wilson on their roster who will be influential in their three-peat mission, what about their rookie, Kate Martin? She picked up an injury last month, and there was some question about whether she’d be ready for the season restart. But, the picture is quite clear after recent updates from head coach Becky Hammon.

According to the tweet from an Aces reporter, Becky Hammon revealed Kate Martin’s status just before the Liberty game. The tweet said, “Becky Hammon just said in her pregame news conference that Kate Martin looks good and doesn’t have any restrictions. The process was just giving her rest like the rest of the team.” Earlier, the 24-year-old rookie was also seen participating in the team’s practice.

Martin has been a decent contributor for the Las Vegas Aces, but her role has mostly been that of a bench player. With an average of 14 minutes, she’s chipped in with around 3.4 points and 1.1 assists per game. It’ll be interesting to see how much playing time she gets now that the Aces are back from the Olympic break.

With some of the star players likely needing rest after their international duties, this could be a big opportunity for Martin to shine. The Aces currently find themselves fifth in standings and head coach Becky Hammon has to effectively rotate players to succeed in winning WNBA’s third consecutive time. Let’s take a look at the Aces squad and why they should be concerned with the lineup formation.

What makes Kate Martin’s availability valuable?

While it’s a plus point that there were four players on the Team USA squad from Aces in their gold medal-winning campaign in Paris, it might pose problems for them too as was earlier pointed out by WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes. “The Las Vegas Aces have four players in the Olympics. And I know, like, A’ja has been playing out of her mind, but they’re tired. You had four players in the Olympics, and there are four players who are a huge part of why you are so good, right?” said Swoopes on a podcast.

The Aces’ roster boasts several Olympic standouts, including A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. Each delivered standout performances on the international stage, with Wilson leading the charge. Jackie Young, in particular, turned heads by averaging 9.5 points per game in her Olympic debut, exceeding expectations. Being consistent performers for their nation in Paris, these players might not be totally ready to take part in the match against Liberty.

All of this makes Kate Martin’s availability a welcome boost for the Aces, giving Becky Hammon another valuable option. With smart rotations and contributions from seasoned stars and rising talents like Martin, the Aces are poised to navigate challenges and chase their historic third consecutive WNBA title.

Stay tuned for more such updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show.” Our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.