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“I feel good. My team is very well-rounded.
Love the team we have to start — the first five, I think we’re
off to a good start,” Clark said.
Collier drafted Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike
and Dallas rookie Paige Bueckers to complete her starting five.
“We’re dynamic, got people that can score at all levels, a point
guard,” Collier said.
After Collier took Minnesota teammate Courtney Williams first in
the reserve portion of the draft, Clark selected Mitchell. Two
Seattle players went next with Skylar Diggins going to Collier
and Gabby Williams to Clark, who passed up on the chance to
draft fellow second-year player and longtime rival Angel Reese.
Clark and Reese teamed up during last season’s All-Star Game
that pitted the WNBA’s best against the U.S. Olympic squad. The
WNBA All-Stars won.
Collier took Reese with the third pick in the reserve draft.
She rounded out her squad with Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas, Los
Angeles’ Kelsey Plum and Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard. Clark also
drafted Washington rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, Las
Vegas’ Jackie Young and Golden State’s Kayla Thornton.
Williams, Citron, Iriafen and Thornton are making their All-Star
debuts.
When the draft was over, the captains traded coaches to put
Cheryl Reeve of the Lynx back with her players, Collier and
Williams. Reeve was coach of the U.S. Olympic team last season
that won gold in Paris. Clark didn’t make the squad and some
people blamed Reeve for that, although the Lynx coach had
nothing to do with the selection of players.
Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty will coach Clark's team.
The game will be played on July 19 in Indianapolis.
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