The Las Vegas Aces sure love their rookie.
After Aces guard Kate Martin slipped on the court and appeared to suffer a painful lower leg injury in the first quarter of Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Sky, her teammates and the Aces’ staff came together to make a sweet and respectful gesture for the rookie.
While Martin was still down on the court, the Aces quickly huddled around her to shield her from cameras. Several players held a towel to keep Martin’s head hidden as she dealt with her injury.
The way the entire Aces team and staff shielded Kate Martin from cameras is making me emotional.
— Bri Lewerke (@brilewerke) July 17, 2024
Truly a special group that has each others back. pic.twitter.com/usFc1hpa7s
Martin was helped to the locker room and later returned to the bench, but she was kept out of the rest of the game, which saw the Aces lose, 93-85, to the Sky.
“I’m going to take care of my rookie, no matter what,” Aces star A’ja Wilson said of Martin’s incident in a postgame presser. “It could be a knee scrub, it could be anything. We’re going to take care of her no matter what because she’s one of us… Cameras just don’t give us privacy, and I get it, that’s their job to get the shot, but I think for us, we’re just going to protect her at all costs.”
WNBA fans loved what the Aces did for Martin.
Their culture is different...in a good way
— JasonEWhite (@JasonEWhite) July 17, 2024
I love when people come together like this ❤️ very humane
— SkyMuse (@ChicagoSkyMuse_) July 17, 2024
Oh, man. Shudder — feel horrible for her. Thankful she has amazing teammates who have her back. Hoping it’s not an Achilles. She’s been amazing to watch since Iowa
— Rock/Hard Place (@txtarheeldad) July 17, 2024
Those vets really love that rook. She’s been entering the league the right way. All this Caitlin/Angel ROY hype. She stands out to me more than anyone. Hoping she’s back at it soon.
— Van Gogh's Ear (@tjlouie1966) July 17, 2024
They all ran to her immediately that made me tear honestly
— Louisa De La Cruz (@lde_la_cruz14) July 17, 2024
The Aces are the gold standard of organization IMO. I know they haven’t been as dominant as they had been, but they still do SO MANY things right! The way the care for each other and respect their opponents is unmatched.
— Chiefs Mom (@SLKCheifs) July 17, 2024
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fans Loved Aces’ Sweet Gesture for Kate Martin After Scary In-Game Injury.
