Caitlin Clark takes Fever teammates Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell in WNBA All-Star Game draft

(Image courtesy Indiana Fever)

All-Star captain Caitlin Clark picked two Indiana Fever teammates for her team in the WNBA All-Star Game draft on Tuesday, choosing Aliyah Boston with her No. 1 pick and adding Kelsey Mitchell with her first pick from the reserve pool of players.

Meanwhile, opposing team captain Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx took Unrivaled business partner Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty first.

The WNBA All-Star Game will be played July 19 in Indianapolis.

Clark, who had the first overall pick by being No. 1 in the fan vote, said Monday there was “a high chance” that Boston and Kelsey Mitchell of the Fever would be on her team. Clark’s other choices from the starters pool were New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson and Phoenix’s Satou Sabally.

“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.

Clark set to return from injury

Clark expects to play Wednesday when the Fever host the Golden State Valkyries after she missed the past five games with a left groin injury. The game, which is nearly sold out, is scheduled for noon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

On Monday, Clark participated in a practice that was open to season ticket holders, playing in a 5-on-5 scrimmage. It was the first time she’d done that since getting hurt on June 26. Barring any setbacks, Clark will be available to play Wednesday.

“It’s nice to get back out there and get back into the flow of playing with my teammates again,” Clark told reporters after practice Tuesday. “It’s going to be fun to get back out there hopefully and just feel things again. … It’s obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I’m excited to get out there.”

It was Clark’s second injury of the season. She’s only played in nine of the team’s 18 games this season. She also missed the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final, which saw the Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx. Clark had a left quad injury that forced her to miss five games last month.

“I hope to play a decent amount—in the upper 20s. I guess it depends on how the game goes and how I feel and what the team needs,” Clark said. “But I feel pretty good. But I’m going to try to not overdo it and put myself in a good position moving forward.”

All-Star rosters