When Caitlin Clark and Co. entered the 2024 NCAA Tournament, their highly anticipated matchup against LSU came earlier than it had the year before. But this time, the Hawkeyes were determined to move ahead. And they did just that, with Clark leading the charge with 41 points and Kate Martin following closely behind with 21, powering Iowa to a thrilling 94–87 victory. But if you think that was the only battle they fought, think again, because two years later, Martin is spilling the tea on a whole different kind of showdown.

This battle wasn’t on the court, it was online. Amid the massive hype around the Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese rivalry, it wasn’t just the stars who found themselves in the spotlight. Every player on both squads, even coaches, came under intense scrutiny from fans on social media. Every move was analyzed, celebrated, or criticized.

Take Iowa’s run to the 2023 national finals, for example. Even head coach Lisa Bluder wasn’t spared. Some fans expressed frustration when the team chose not to add a player via the transfer portal for the 2023–2024 season. So, it’s clear: no one is immune to fan debates. But for players, the pressure hits different. It can impact performance and mental focus. Bluder, who retired with an impressive .675 winning percentage across 24 seasons (527–253) understood how damaging these distractions could be.

“Social media has changed players so much. They’re more worried about their brand and that sort of thing… there just weren’t all the distractions that there are now,” she had said two years ago. But now, that behind-the-scenes reality is coming to light, thanks to Kate Martin.

In a recent appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, Martin opened up about her transition to the WNBA and, in doing so, revealed the secret strategy Bluder gave her two years ago, one that she still follows today. “Caitlin and our whole entire Iowa squad—we did such a good job of learning how to block out outside noise whenever we were in the heat of that,” Martin said. “The negative stuff can be bad, but the positive can be just as bad. During that first Final Four run, I deleted my social media for the entire summer—like six or seven months.”

The idea? Give yourself a break. While ignoring criticism might be difficult, many athletes are now choosing to deactivate their social media accounts to protect their mental health. Remember Angel Reese? She deactivated her Instagram account after facing heavy backlash a couple of months ago. But not every athlete can take that route, especially those with big endorsement deals and brand partnerships tied to their online presence.

After all, it’s the followers who show up in arenas, buy jerseys, and drive the business. So it makes sense that detaching from social media isn’t an ideal option for everyone. But for Martin, it’s a different story. “And so I’m doing the same this year with social media,” she shared. “I don’t need the positive. I don’t need the negative. I just need to focus on my team.” And as she delivered the idea, it immediately stuck with the WNBA legend, Sue Bird. Even she put forward the same advice for players in W. Honestly, why not? If it’s working for Martin, it could work for everyone enduring harsh criticism from social media.

How is Kate Martin improving in her Year 2 with Golden State Valkyries?

Kate Martin’s second year with the GVS didn’t exactly kick off as planned. She earned a spot in the starting lineup on opening night, but the momentum didn’t last long. Struggling with her shot and dealing with injuries, Martin found herself out of the rotation for the next four games as coach Natalie Nakase looked to adjust the team’s chemistry.

But on Sunday night against the Minnesota Lynx, Martin looked like she was finally finding her rhythm and her role. She made an early impact, scoring her team’s first two baskets by cutting sharply to the hoop off pinpoint passes from Julie Vanloo. And once the Lynx defense started switching to stop those drives, Martin made them pay from deep, knocking down two threes in three possessions, one of which came with a foul.

And, by the end of the game, Martin had tallied 14 points and grabbed four rebounds, certainly a bright spot in the Valkyries’ 86–75 loss. And perhaps the best part, she’s just getting started. Her role may still be determined on a game-by-game basis, but Martin’s presence on the floor is growig to be more commanding.

Through the first six games of the season, she’s averaging 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest, both improvements from her rookie campaign. If this trend continues, don’t be surprised if Martin delivers even more standout performances as the season rolls on.