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tRY IT NOWLiberty fans are going to have to pick a side for the 2025 WNBA All-Star game.
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu were among the first players taken off the board in Tuesday’s All-Star draft but were picked by separate captains.
All-Star captain Napheesa Collier picked her former UConn teammate and fellow Unrivaled co-founder, Stewart, with the No. 2 pick.
Fellow captain Caitlin Clark decided to take Ionescu off the board with the No. 3 pick, saying that she’s a “big fan of Sab.”
“It’ll be weird,” Ionescu said about being a foe of Stewart’s for a day. “Maybe we’ll just allow each other to trade off baskets and shoot.”
That wasn’t the only surprise out of the draft. Clark also initiated a stunning and unprecedented trade toward the end of the All-Star draft, as she suggested the two teams swap coaches so Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve could be with Collier.
“I’ve created history,” said Brondello, who learned about the trade from her son. “This is awesome. … I get to coach for Sabrina [and] Caitlin Clark’s in Indianapolis. I mean, what a great show.”
Sitting only a foot away from Brondello after the Liberty’s 87-78 win over the Aces on Tuesday night, Ionescu let out an exaggerated groan and rolled her eyes when asked about being reunited with Brondello in Indianapolis for the July 19 showcase.
Ionescu was obviously kidding.
“I’m actually very excited,” she said. “It’s never happened to me before, so this is the first time. Obviously super comfortable being able to go there with a coach that loves me, and I’m really excited to be able to just kind of share that together. It’s an honor to be able to go with my teammate but also the coaching staff and everyone.”
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, left, and forward Breanna Stewart greet each other after it was announced they would be All-Star starters. Heather Khalifa for the NY PostClark did make a push at the end to bring Stewart to her team.
“If you want to send Stewie over, I’ll take her,” said Clark, who offered Satou Sabally.
Collier thought about it for a minute before telling Clark to “sweeten the deal.” Clark countered by encouraging Collier to propose a trade that would unite Stewart, Ionescu and Brondello.
“To make this spicy. … You have to give me your No. 1 overall pick and your teammate Aliyah Boston,” Collier said.
Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty during the second half against the Seattle Storm. Getty Images“Absolutely not,” Clark immediately said. “I don’t even think Phee meant that. I think she just wanted to see me react.”
Stewart didn’t seem to mind being on the opposing team from her Liberty colleagues.
“Me against Sandy, like old times,” she said.
Clark said she was picking her team off “vibes” and wanted to have fun.
Clark’s full roster included: Boston and Kelsey Mitchell (Fever), A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young (Aces), Sabally (Mercury), Gabby Williams (Storm), Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen (Mystics), and Kayla Thornton (Valkyries.)
Meanwhile, Collier used the national TV time to represent and shout out Unrivaled as much as possible. Collier, who was wearing an Unrivaled shirt, picked several of her Lunar Owls teammates — including Allisha Gray (Dream), Skylar Diggins (Storm) and Courtney Williams (Lynx.)
Collier’s roster also features Nneka Ogwumike (Storm), Paige Bueckers (Wings), Angel Reese (Sky), Alyssa Thomas (Mercury), Kelsey Plum (Sparks) and Rhyne Howard (Dream.)
Stewart approved of Collier’s pickings.
“A lot of Huskies on the squad,” she said. “Excited to be able to play with Paige and just have a great time in Indy.”
Collier and Stewart played one season together at UConn before the latter was drafted No. 1 in 2016.
This is Stewart’s seventh All-Star recognition and Ionescu’s fourth. Brondello is making her first All-Star appearance as a coach since 2018.
“The All-Star game is always fun,” Ionescu said. “It’s not that competitive. And it’s just kind of, you get to go out there, enjoy, have fun and just kind of celebrate the accomplishments so I’m excited for all of us.”






