Whether you know women’s basketball or not, chances are, you know Caitlin Clark. The point guard played for Iowa from 2020 to 2024 and broke the NCAA’s all-time leading scoring record for both men’s and women’s in her final year. For her accomplishments, Clark bagged over 46 records as a collegiate player. However, her ex-teammate Sydney Affolter still doesn’t feel that the No. 22 should be looked up to for her leadership skills. Instead, she took the name of another Iowa alum who she wants to follow this upcoming season.

Affolter, after the graduation of Clark’s batch, will now be captaining the Hawkeyes. Taking note of the same during a media session on Thursday, she divulged who she would be emulating this year.

“Kate (Martin) was an amazing role model for me and someone to learn from as a leader. I think I’ve always had that confidence to be a leader and to be that voice that people look up to. And me and Kate are very similar and our personalities and also the way that we play, and you know the way that she led our team she was able to bring everyone together. And you know be that voice that everyone’s able to look up to, and everyone gather. So I’m excited to be that voice this year and be that leader,” Affolter stated.

Notably, Kate Martin was the captain of the Hawkeyes for four seasons from her sophomore year onwards. She, with her vision, led the Lisa Bluder-coached team to two NCAA Championship Finales in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Described as the enforcer for the Hawkeyes, she is said to have given the team a track to follow with her exceptional foresight. According to The Daily Iowan, even the generational talent had expressed her gratitude for having Martin on her team. “She’s probably the best leader I’ve ever been around in my entire life,” Clark had expressed.

To top that, even the then-head coach Bluder and her assistant and the current head coach Jan Jensen had spoken highly of Martin’s leadership skills. Many fans referred to her as ‘the glue’ that binds the team together. She was so important she decided to use the extra year of eligibility given to her and returned to the Hawkeyes in 2023 for one more year. Probably it was her low-key qualities that helped the team. And certainly, Affolter can learn a lot from her as she stated in the video.

Kate Martin has gained a major fan following over time

“I honestly didn’t expect to have any fans when I came here… I don’t really get it if I’m being honest,” Martin spoke about her WNBA rookie year with the Las Vegas Aces. Drafted in the second round by the Aces, Martin did not expect much. Hence, she was surprised when her Aces’ jersey sold out, just four games into this W season. From there, the Martin craze picked up so much that at one time fans, Martinis as they call themselves, were disappointed with the 2x WNBA Champions for not playing the rookie.

In Indiana Fever and Las Vegas’ clash after the Olympic break in September, many fans wished for a good matchup between the two ex-teammates Martin and Clark. However, the Aces’ head coach Becky Hammon played spoilsport to their plans by benching the Illinois-born.

While Martin, even in the subsequent games, didn’t match up to the caliber of any formidable names in the league, she has amassed a good fan following. Hopefully, during her W career, she will get all she deserves while being looked up to as a leader not only by Affolter but by other W stars as well.