On the evening before her birthday, the Las Vegas Aces decided to play a playful prank on rookie Kate Martin by pretending to leave her behind after a team dinner. The reigning WNBA champions executed this light-hearted joke on June 4 while they were in Plano, Texas, preparing for their upcoming game against the Dallas Wings.
A’ja Wilson, the WNBA MVP, captured the moment on video and shared it on her Instagram Stories. The footage showed 24-year-old Martin, a former Iowa Hawkeyes player, laughing and rushing to catch the team’s charter bus. Wilson, 27, added a caption to the post, “Don’t be late to the bus,” tagging Martin and including several laughing emojis.
Wilson wasn’t the only one who found the prank amusing. Aces forward Kierstan Bell also shared a video of Martin sprinting towards the bus as it appeared to drive away. Bell humorously captioned her post with “poor rook lmaooo,” and admitted, “I hate my laugh but this was funny not gone lie.” Additionally, Bell posted about the team’s dinner at Brasão Brazilian Steakhouse in Plano that night.
The following day, Bell continued the fun on her Instagram story by reposting the Aces’ birthday tribute to Martin, affectionately wishing her a “Happy Birthday Lil Bookie” with a heart emoji.
For those eager to stay updated on stories like these, signing up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter is a great way to keep abreast of celebrity news and human interest stories.
Martin, despite being a new addition to the Aces, has quickly become an integral part of the team. Her path to the WNBA has been remarkable, particularly because she was not certain she would be drafted in April. During her time at Iowa, Martin, alongside Caitlin Clark, contributed to the women’s basketball team’s historic success, reaching the Final Four and the national championship game in consecutive seasons in 2023 and 2024.
While Clark garnered much of the spotlight by breaking records, Martin provided crucial support with an average of 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The unpredictability of the draft added to the excitement of Martin’s journey. She traveled to Brooklyn with the expectation of watching Clark go first overall to the Indiana Fever, but to her surprise, she herself was selected 17 picks later by the Aces, fulfilling her lifelong dream.
Reflecting on her draft experience, Martin expressed her joy to the Associated Press, saying, “There are a lot of emotions right now. I’m really happy to be here. I was here to support Caitlin, but I was hoping to hear my name called. All I wanted was an opportunity and I got it. I’m really excited.”
Following the draft, Caitlin Clark shared her excitement for Martin on social media. Clark wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “KATE. MARTIN. LFGGGGG,” accompanied by a sunglasses emoji and two white heart emojis. She also posted a selfie with Martin on her Instagram Stories, captioning it, “Couldn’t be happier for you,” with another heart emoji.
This light-hearted prank by the Las Vegas Aces not only showcases the team’s camaraderie but also highlights Kate Martin’s rapid adaptation and growing importance within the team. From a surprise draft pick to being the target of a friendly joke, Martin’s journey in the WNBA is off to an entertaining and promising start.
