Caitlin Clark trades coach Cheryl Reeve at WNBA All-Star draft, ending up with Sandy Brondello

Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier met on live television on July 8 to pick their rosters for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Near the end of the show Clark looked straight at Collier and said she wanted to swap head coaches. The league’s script had assigned Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve to Team Clark and New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello to Team Collier. Clark asked for Brondello instead. Collier agreed, and the deal went through on the spot. The move is unusual because WNBA draft rules mention player trades, not coach trades. Clark brushed that off, saying the captains had talked it over and liked the idea. Moments later the league’s social-media team posted a “trade alert” confirming the switch, so the change is official. Reeve now gets to coach her regular Lynx star Collier, which pleases both of them. Clark, in turn, pairs up with Brondello, who has guided the Liberty to back-to-back Finals. Clark called the new match “good vibes.” Collier laughed and warned that the extra Lynx chemistry might tip the game in her favor. Fans quickly linked the trade to old friction between Clark and Reeve. Last season Reeve said the league should share its spotlight instead of centering every headline on Clark. She also faced heavy criticism when Clark was left off the 2024 U.S. Olympic roster, even though Reeve insisted she did not control final selections. Many supporters still see Reeve as the public face of that snub, so Clark’s decision looks personal to them. Reeve has since praised Clark’s talent many times, yet the tension lingers online. Outsports noted that Reeve had only two All-Stars from her first-place Lynx while Indiana, sitting near .500, landed three. That fact added a fresh edge to the coach swap story. For Clark, the draft was also about building comfort on the floor. She selected Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell early, then grabbed stars Sabrina Ionescu and A’ja Wilson. Collier countered with close friends Breanna Stewart and Allisha Gray. The full rosters will face off on July 19 in Indianapolis. Brondello said her teenage son texted her “Mom, you got traded,” and she thought the whole scene was fun. Reeve kept her response short, telling local reporters she is happy to coach Collier anytime. The league has struggled in past years to make its All-Star Game feel lively. A surprise coach trade, born of live banter and lingering storylines, may give the showcase the spark it needs.