In a lighthearted yet somewhat awkward moment, Iowa Hawkeyes forward Kate Martin found herself in the spotlight after making a rather unexpected comparison between her teammate Caitlin Clark and WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson. While speaking during an interview, Martin intended to praise Clark, one of the most talented players in women’s college basketball, but her choice of comparison left many fans and commentators scratching their heads.
Caitlin Clark, known for her electrifying playmaking, sharpshooting, and ability to take over games, has drawn comparisons to various basketball greats, both in the NCAA and the professional ranks. A’ja Wilson, on the other hand, is a dominant force in the WNBA, playing for the Las Vegas Aces. As a forward and reigning league MVP, Wilson’s skill set is vastly different from Clark’s guard position and style of play. This made Martin’s attempt to compare the two somewhat perplexing.
During the interview, Martin, while discussing Clark’s impact on the team and the game as a whole, said, “Caitlin is just like A’ja Wilson out there. She dominates every facet of the game, and you can’t really stop her when she’s on.” While Martin’s intention was clearly to highlight Clark’s dominance, the comparison to Wilson—a post player known for her size, rebounding, and interior scoring—didn’t quite fit the description of Clark’s long-range shooting, playmaking, and guard skills.
The moment quickly became a talking point on social media, where fans of both players pointed out the distinct differences between Clark’s and Wilson’s styles of play. Some viewed the comment as a “whoopsie” on Martin’s part, a simple slip of the tongue in an attempt to praise her teammate. Others joked about the comparison, highlighting the vast difference in positions and playing styles, with Clark being a high-volume shooter and facilitator, while Wilson excels in the paint as one of the league’s most formidable post players.
To Martin’s credit, her intention was clear. She wanted to emphasize how valuable Clark is to the Iowa Hawkeyes, much in the same way that Wilson is to the Las Vegas Aces. Both Clark and Wilson are the faces of their respective teams, leading them in scoring and being key reasons why their squads are successful. Martin was simply drawing a parallel between their leadership and ability to dominate, though the specifics of their games couldn’t be more different.
Fans of both players chimed in online, with some pointing out that the comparison could have been to other players, perhaps someone more aligned with Clark’s skill set, such as a WNBA guard like Diana Taurasi or Sue Bird. Still, many recognized that Martin’s heart was in the right place, even if the comparison was a bit off.
In the days following the comment, Martin herself addressed the moment with good humor. In a tweet, she acknowledged the lighthearted ribbing she had received, saying, “Okay, maybe not the best comparison, but I think we can all agree that Caitlin Clark is a beast on the court!” Her response drew even more support from fans who appreciated her ability to laugh at the situation.
Caitlin Clark, as usual, took the moment in stride. Known for her fierce competitiveness on the court and easygoing personality off of it, Clark reportedly found the comparison amusing and thanked Martin for the compliment. “I’ll take it! A’ja’s an MVP, right? I don’t mind being in the same sentence as her,” Clark joked during a press conference.
A’ja Wilson, when asked about the comment during a post-game press conference with the Las Vegas Aces, responded with her trademark humor. “Hey, I’ll take it! Caitlin is a bucket! We’ll just say she’s a three-point-shooting version of me,” Wilson laughed, turning the awkward moment into a playful exchange between two basketball stars.
In the end, what could have been an uncomfortable blunder turned into a fun moment of camaraderie among players and fans alike. While Kate Martin’s comparison might not have been technically accurate, it showcased her appreciation for Caitlin Clark’s immense talent and her desire to highlight her teammate’s greatness. Both Clark and Wilson, despite their differences in playing style, remain two of the most dominant forces in basketball today, and if anything, Martin’s comment simply brought more attention to their respective brilliance.
