Caitlin Clark trades away Cheryl Reeve in shocking WNBA All-Star Game coach swap
The coaching situation, though, was another story.
In a move that was as shocking as it was unclear if it was technically allowed, Clark traded Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve to Team Collier for Liberty coach Sandy Brondello.
Advertisement
Reeve was supposed to coach Team Clark in the July 19 showcase before Napheesa Collier and Clark agreed to the coach swap and revealed it during the WNBA All-Star draft that was airing on ESPN's pregame show before the Liberty faced the Aces.
3 Indiana Fever guards Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark celebrate from the bench during a game against the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Grace Smith/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images
'I don't know if this is in the rules, I don't really care, but I think we already discussed we are going to trade coaches,' Clark said. [Collier] is going to take her coach. Sandy Brondello, let's get it. It's going to be amazing. Sorry WNBA if that's not in the rule. Sorry, ESPN, if that's not in the rule, but we just made it a rule.
Advertisement
'Sandy Brondello, come on over. You can coach Sabrina [Ionescu]. Maybe [Breanna Stewart] wants to come over to my team.'
3 New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello looks on during the first half against the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Brooklyn, NY.
Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Clark continued to jokingly prod Collier to 'let her know' if she wanted to allow the Liberty star to join Team Clark.
Advertisement
Collier plays under Reeve for the Lynx, so the swap allows her to play for her in the All-Star Game as well.
The trade is notable not only for its unprecedented nature but also because of the perception around Reeve and her comments regarding Clark.
Reeve had seemingly taken a swipe on social media when the WNBA promoted a preseason game being televised featuring Clark and the Fever in 2024.
3 Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on against the Indiana Fever in the second half during the Commissioner's Cup final at Target Center.
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Advertisement
The Lynx coach re-shared the WNBA post on X and mentioned that Minnesota was also playing the Sky that night and included the hashtags #theWismmorethanoneplayer and #12teams.
She then responded to a fan comment that it was 'Because they only care about Caitlin,' to which the coach replied, 'That part.'
Reeve was also the head coach of the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team and took a lot of flak for Clark's snub from the Olympic roster.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sparks outlast Storm in offensive thriller, first double overtime game of season
SEATTLE — A week after claiming the first buzzer-beating win of the WNBA season, the Los Angeles Sparks earned the year's first double-overtime victory, outlasting the Seattle Storm 108-106 Friday in a game that featured 14 lead changes and 12 ties. It was a triumph of offensive execution for both teams in crunch time, as each made clutch shots that forced increasingly difficult responses. There were five combined baskets in the final minute of regulation and zero misses. The final minute of overtime saw a Julie Allemand drive to the basket matched by one from Skylar Diggins. And Gabby Williams' wing 3-pointer to tie the game with 16 seconds to play — capping a five-point Seattle comeback in the second extra session — was eclipsed by a pick-and-roll finish from Dearica Hamby to seal the win. Diggins' attempt at the buzzer, one day before the star's 35th birthday, couldn't force a third overtime. The Sparks ended the game with four players scoring at least 20 points, a first in franchise history. They scored their third-most points in a game, collecting their sixth win in seven tries to move to a WNBA-best 9-6 on the road. 'Everyone just did their job,' Rickea Jackson said. 'Whatever was asked of us, we executed to the T.' Jackson led the way for L.A. with 27 points, the second-highest total of her career, but arguably the best game she has ever played at the pro level. Her box-outs helped keep the Storm off the glass, especially early, and the Sparks turned to Jackson down the stretch in regulation when they needed a score to tie the game. Her ability to duck in and overpower her defender was the advantage Seattle couldn't overcome. Fellow L.A. sophomore Cameron Brink played in her second game since returning from an ACL injury suffered in June 2024. Still on a minutes limit, Brink played 12 minutes, registering two steals and three blocks, including a monster rejection on the All-Star Williams in the fourth quarter. Many of Brink's minutes came against Dominique Malonga, also a No. 2 pick, and the two dazzled with their defensive playmaking. Brink also chipped in five points on jump shots at the start of the quarter to help the Sparks stay in contact while Hamby and Azurá Stevens were on the bench. The Storm lost despite 37 points from former L.A. star Nneka Ogwumike and double-digit scoring outputs from three other starters. Afterwards, coach Noelle Quinn was disappointed in the officiating, particularly relating to her point guard. Although L.A. was whistled for 22 fouls compared to 21 for Seattle, Quinn said, '(Diggins) played 43 minutes and took zero free throws. It's ridiculous. Maybe I have to come up and rant and rave for us to get respect and consistency. That's all I want. 'I'm not a coach that complains often,' Quinn added. 'But I see what happens when people come up here and do it, so now I'm about to do it. Forty-three minutes and zero free throws is bullshit. Period.' The Storm entered the game last in the league in free-throw attempts per game (15.9) compared to 22.1 for the second-place Sparks. Diggins, however, is 10th in the WNBA with 5.1 foul shots per game, though she didn't make any trips to the line Friday. Quinn also questioned the outcome of a challenge with 58 seconds to play in regulation, with Seattle up three. L.A. appeared to lose possession out of bounds, but the referees ruled the ball off the Storm and confirmed the call upon review. 'I saw with my own eyes it go off the opponent and they said there was not enough camera angles to change that call,' Quinn said. 'Again, the lack of respect, the disrespect. I can't. I know I'm young and early in my career but I work very hard and so does my team and we deserve to get refereed consistently. We deserve to get the calls that are just blatant. But there's not enough camera angles.' L.A. remains outside of playoff position despite its recent surge, now two games behind the No. 8 seed for the final playoff spot. Seattle falls into a tie with Indiana at No. 5 before the two teams face off Sunday for the second time this season. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
New York plays Connecticut following Ionescu's 23-point game
Associated Press New York Liberty (17-10, 10-3 Eastern Conference) at Connecticut Sun (5-21, 3-7 Eastern Conference) Uncasville, Connecticut; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: New York Liberty visits the Connecticut Sun after Sabrina Ionescu scored 23 points in the Liberty's 78-62 loss to the Connecticut Sun. The Sun are 3-7 in Eastern Conference games. Connecticut ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 8.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Olivia Nelson-Ododa averaging 1.8. The Liberty are 10-3 in Eastern Conference play. New York is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 7.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Nyara Sabally averaging 1.7. Connecticut is shooting 40.4% from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points lower than the 42.0% New York allows to opponents. New York averages 86.9 points per game, 0.1 fewer than the 87.0 Connecticut allows. The teams square off for the third time this season. The Sun won the last meeting 78-62 on Aug. 1. Marina Mabrey scored 18 points to help lead the Sun to the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Tina Charles is averaging 16.1 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Sun. Bria Hartley is averaging 12.0 points over the last 10 games. Natasha Cloud is averaging 10.1 points and 5.9 assists for the Liberty. Ionescu is averaging 21.7 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sun: 3-7, averaging 79.8 points, 32.9 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 41.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.5 points per game. Liberty: 5-5, averaging 85.7 points, 33.2 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 83.7 points. INJURIES: Sun: None listed. Liberty: Breanna Stewart: out (leg), Nyara Sabally: out (knee), Kennedy Burke: out (calf). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chicago hosts Phoenix, looks to break home losing streak
Phoenix Mercury (16-11, 9-7 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (7-20, 1-11 Eastern Conference) Chicago; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Chicago Sky takes on Phoenix Mercury looking to break its five-game home losing streak. The Sky are 4-9 in home games. Chicago allows 87.1 points to opponents and has been outscored by 10.4 points per game. The Mercury are 7-7 on the road. Phoenix is third in the Western Conference with 20.7 assists per game led by Alyssa Thomas averaging 9.0. Chicago's average of 7.0 made 3-pointers per game is 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 8.4 per game Phoenix allows. Phoenix has shot at a 43.3% clip from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points fewer than the 44.9% shooting opponents of Chicago have averaged. The two teams match up for the third time this season. The Mercury defeated the Sky 107-86 in their last meeting on June 21. Sami Whitcomb led the Mercury with 17 points, and Kamilla Cardoso led the Sky with 17 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Angel Reese is averaging 14.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Sky. Rachel Banham is averaging 13.7 points over the last 10 games. Thomas is averaging 16.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and nine assists for the Mercury. Kahleah Copper is averaging 10.4 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 48.6% over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sky: 2-8, averaging 73.5 points, 36.3 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 5.3 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 41.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 87.0 points per game. Mercury: 4-6, averaging 83.0 points, 33.4 rebounds, 20.7 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.0 points. INJURIES: Sky: Ariel Atkins: out (leg), Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). Mercury: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
