Indiana Fever Stars to Share Team in WNBA All-Star
The three star players of the Indiana Fever have been selected to be on the same team in the WNBA All-Star Game, which will be held in Indianapolis on July 19. The teams, chosen by captains Caitlin Clark of the Fever and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, were announced this Tuesday.
Clark and Collier, who received the most votes from the fans, first selected the remaining eight starting players and then completed their teams with 12 reserves. In addition, they made a coaching trade.
Cheryl Reeve, from the Minnesota Lynx, was initially assigned to coach Team Clark, as the coach of the team with the best record in the league until July 3rd would go with the player with the most votes. Sandy Brondello, from the New York Liberty, coach of the team with the second-best record at that time, was originally assigned to Team Collier. However, since Reeve is Collier’s coach on the Lynx, the captains chose to swap coaches.Clark chose her two Fever teammates available in the draft: forward-center Aliyah Boston (No. 1 pick) and guard Kelsey Mitchell (No. 10 pick). Completing Team Clark’s starting five, alongside her and Boston, are guard Sabrina Ionescu of the Liberty (No. 3 pick), center A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, three-time WNBA MVP (No. 5), and forward Satou Sabally of the Phoenix Mercury (No. 7).
The Team Clark reserves are led by Mitchell, followed by Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams (No. 12 pick), Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (No. 14), and forward Kiki Iriafen (No. 16), Aces guard Jackie Young (No. 18), and Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (No. 20).
Collier chose her former University of Connecticut and USA Basketball teammate, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, with the second pick. The rest of Team Collier’s starters are Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (No. 4 pick), Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (No. 6) and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (No. 8).
Team Collier’s reserves are her Lynx teammate, guard Courtney Williams (No. 9 pick), Storm guard Skylar Diggins (No. 11), Chicago Sky forward-center Angel Reese (No. 13), Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (No. 15), Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (No. 17), and Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard (No. 19).
The players considered the possibility of trading players, but it ultimately did not materialize. Clark initially offered Sabally for Stewart, so that Brondello could coach both Liberty players with Stewart and Ionescu. However, Collier countered by asking Clark to give up Boston for Stewart, which did not happen.
The Three-Point Contest and the All-Star Skills Challenge are scheduled for July 18. The All-Star Game will take place on July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Fever.
