'Protect her at all costs': A'ja Wilson, Aces support Kate Martin after ...

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US women's basketball looks to secure 8th consecutive Olympic gold

With WNBA viewership at an all-time high, the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team looks to continue Olympic dominance.

The camaraderie of the Las Vegas Aces was on full display Tuesday evening after the entire team and staff were quick to rally around guard Kate Martin after the rookie sustained a distressing injury to her lower right leg.

Martin went down with 1:19 left in the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Sky. The Aces (16-8) struggled against the scoring prowess of Chennedy Carter and Angel Reese and ultimately suffered an 93-85 upset to the Sky (10-14). 

Martin was dribbling up the court when she appeared to slip, clutching her right ankle as she fell to the ground, where she remained for about one minute in visible pain and distress. 

Within seconds, Martin’s teammates, including the entire Aces bench, encircled her on the court, as several teammates used towels to shield the former Iowa Hawkeyes player from the camera.

“I’m gonna take care of my rookie no matter what,” Aces star A’ja Wilson said in a post-game news conference. “She’s one of us. She’s our sister and someone that we will always depend and count on, but at the same time, cameras be getting in your business and we don’t want that, we don’t need that. We try to protect her peace, her mental and just her emotion.

“We’re going to protect her at all costs because you never (know) what the internet or people may do,” Wilson added. 

Martin was eventually led off the court with assistance. She returned to the bench for the second half wearing sweatpants over her uniform but did not play again. 

Aces coach Becky Hammon said she hadn’t had the chance to talk to the medical staff and could not provide further information about Martin’s injury status.

“I know (she’s) freakin’ tough, so I don’t know how bad it is but she’s a tough cookie,” Hammon said after the game.

Martin’s injury comes as the WNBA enters its weeks-long Olympic break. The Aces are not scheduled to play until Aug. 17 when they will face off against the top-of-the-table New York Liberty (21-4).