Former Iowa women's basketball star Kate Martin is competing for a roster spot with the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces and avoided further cuts by the organization on Monday.
The Aces have waived veteran guard Bria Hartley after nine years with the team, the team announced on social media. The former first-round pick out of UW hasn't played consistently in the league since 2020, but appeared in 13 games last season between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun.
She was the third player to be cut during training camp in Las Vegas. The Aces previously announced on May 2 guard Morgan Jones and forward Blair, the 2023 AP National Player of the Year and a notable contributor to South Carolina's 2022 national championship team. Beer was being fired.
Former Hawkeye great Megan Gustafson also remains on the roster after signing a two-year contract on Feb. 1.
Last update:Former Iowa State women's basketball star Kate Martin overcomes first cut with Las Vegas Aces
Martin was drafted in the second round, 18th overall, on April 15, but is not guaranteed to make the team. With just 12 teams and a maximum of 144 total roster spots for the association, the WNBA is arguably the most difficult professional sports league to land a team.
Teams can field up to 18 players during training camp, but must reduce their roster to 12 by May 13, the day before the season begins. The Aces currently have 13 players on their roster, so Martin will have to survive next week's final cut.
Of the 36 players drafted in 2023, only 15 played in a game last season and just eight made the opening roster. It was already a difficult task for Martin to break into the top 12 on a team that has won back-to-back league titles, but her chances have improved in recent days.
Martin's expectations initially rose when WNBA legend and future Basketball Hall of Famer Candice Parker announced her retirement on April 28, but with two other players sidelined, the former Hawkeye A spot may be secured within the next few days.
more:Iowa women's basketball: What's next for the Hawkeyes' roster in 2023-24?
Gus Martin is a digital producer/content director at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X @GusMartin_DMR.