Golden State Valkyries star Kate Martin reacted to a picture by Indiana Fever's photographer Bri Lewerke on Monday. Reacting to Bri's tribute post to Lisa Bluder, the former Iowa guard penned a three-word reaction for her ex-coach on the emotional Instagram post.
Bri Lewerke took to Instagram to share her thoughts on Lisa Bluder's exit from Iowa. The legendary coach was with the Hawkeyes for over 24 years and was given a warm send-off during Iowa's match with Maryland on Monday.
Indiana Fever's photographer Lewerke, who also captures photographs for the Iowa Hawkeyes, shared an emotional message for Iowa's winningest coach:
"Lisa Bluder’s legacy will live on forever 💛 Iowa was lucky to have her, and I was lucky to capture a marginal part of her major impact on women’s sports," she wrote.
Kate Martin was present in the comments of Bri's post as she reacted to her former coach's exit from Iowa in three words:
"She’s so cute," Martin expressed in the comments.
Kate Martin spent five years under Lisa Bluder's command in Iowa, with the pair forming a great understanding. The Valkyries guard was trusted by Lisa to lead her team appointing her as the captain during her entire stint in college. Alongside Caitlin Clark, Martin and Bluder won back-to-back Big Ten championships while reaching the NCAA Finals in 2022.
Lisa Bluder's incredible legacy celebrated by Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrated their former head coach Lisa Bluder on Monday as fans, players, and alumni came together to commemorate their program's winningest coach. The Iowa team honored Lisa Bluder during halftime of their match against the eighth-seeded Maryland, memorializing her 24 years with the team.
Lisa joined the Hawkeyes in 2000 after spending a decade coaching Drake University's women's basketball team. During her tenure with the Bulldogs, Bluder amassed 187 wins and 106 losses which earned her a coaching gig with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
During her time with the Hawkeyes, Lisa became a poster figure for the Iowa team, leading her team to multiple Big 10 titles. The former St. Ambrose coach also led the Hawkeyes to 16 postseason appearances, including NCAA Tournament berths in eight of the last 10 seasons.
Bluder has recorded countless accolades for the Hawkeyes, and while she was unable to win an NCAA crown during her tenure, the 63-year-old has been of huge importance to the program. Cultivating great talents, including Caitlin Clark, the coach has been an influential figure in women's basketball.
Although Lisa was celebrated for her incredible career with the Hawkeyes on Monday, the end of the match must have left a sour taste in her mouth. Despite an evening of significance, the Hawkeyes lost to the Terps by eight points.