However, amidst the criticism of Carter’s behavior, Bluder also took a moment to commend Kate Martin for her courageous defense of Caitlin Clark. Martin’s decision to stand up for her teammate earned her praise from Bluder and others, underscoring the importance of unity and support within the team.

Bluder’s outspoken commentary has further fueled discussions surrounding sportsmanship and ethical conduct in athletics. While some have applauded her for speaking out against unsportsmanlike behavior, others have questioned the impact and repercussions of her statements. Nevertheless, Bluder’s willingness to address these issues head-on serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing dialogue within the sports community regarding respect, integrity, and fair play both on and off the court.

Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin played together for four years at Iowa.

As Caitlin Clark makes her transition to the professional side of basketball, her familiar teammates from her four years at Iowa are no more. Clark, who was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever this year, now will face some of her former teammates for the first time as opponents.

One of those players is Kate Martin, who now plays for the Las Vegas Aces. With the Fever set to take the Aces on on Saturday, the two reunited pregame and had an incredibly wholesome reunion on the court during pregame warmups.

Take a look at the video of their sweet interaction:

Before the game, Clark spent some time speaking about Martin to the press:

Here’s what Clark said about Martin in that press scrum, after getting in a friendly jab at her for not showing up to the joint press conference:

“[She was] somebody that was with me all four years at Iowa, and I was the person that kinda begged her to come back for her sixth year. … We’ve talked every single day, I call her if not texted her every single day. I’m just really happy for her and everything coach [Becky] Hammon says about her is just so true, and every single person that played at Iowa and was around our program knows that to be true. She’s the ultimate teammate, she’s the ultimate person, ultimate leader, she’s going to do whatever she can for her team, just super unselfish person, and just honestly she’s just a winner. … She was my teammate but also one of my best friends. You know, I’ve been lucky.”

The two spent some time on the court chatting before their matchup in Vegas:

Together, Martin and Clark combined for over 5,000 points, 1,500 rebounds, and 1,500 assists in the four years they overlapped as Hawkeyes.