Cheryl Reeve still remembers the moment like it was yesterday. Back in 2019, a fresh-faced rookie, Napheesa Collier walked into the locker room. The team had just come off a tough game. But when a teammate stepped out of line, it was Phee who calmly called it out. That’s when Reeve knew this young woman was different. That moment laid the foundation for the bond they’d built over the years in Minnesota. But now, for one night only, they’re on opposite ends of the court.
The WNBA All-Star Game just got a lot more interesting. We already knew Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier were gonna be the two captains this year. Clark racked up over 1.29 million votes, Collier wasn’t far behind with 1.17 million, and we’ve got our star-studded draft night coming up. But guess who’s coaching against her own franchise star? Coach Reeve.
Since the coach of the team with the best record gets paired with the top vote-getter, Reeve is set to coach Team Clark, not Team Collier, the very centerpiece of her Lynx empire. Meanwhile, New york Liberty’s coach Sandy Brondello will coach team Phee. When someone asked Reeve how she felt about that little twist, her answer was…funny after a few second pause.
“Well, there’s transacting that can happen, it’s been done before,” she said, laughing. And then she followed up with, “These are first world problems and how dare I for a second think this isn’t a tremendous honor… so that’s the space I’m in and I’m excited.” Still, Reeve was clear, no more questions about the “coaching her own star” dilemma. She’s treating the moment with the reverence it deserves. But she didn’t forget to add that it’s something she can’t take for granted. For her, it’s still a huge honor.
Cheryl Reeve on coaching the all star game against Napheesa Collier
“(pause)Well there’s transacting that can happen, it’s been done before(laughing)
On coaching the all star game versus the time off
“These are first world problems(smiling) and how dare I for a second think… pic.twitter.com/OUT08fBoTL
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) July 4, 2025
Now, if you’ve got déjà vu by these coaching names, it’s for a reason. Reeve and Brondello are very familiar with each other. The Lynx beat Brondello’s Liberty in the Commissioner’s Cup, but then NY got the last laugh in the Finals. And last year’s All-Star Game, Reeve coached Team USA, Clark led Team WNBA (and won), and things were spicy as CC guided Team WNBA to a 117-109 win over Team USA.
So now we wait. The reserves will be announced on July 6, and the draft is on July 8. You just know Clark is gonna try and grab her Fever girls, and Phee? She has got something to prove after Round 1 went to Indy in the Cup. Clark didn’t even suit up for that one, but her influence was all over it. By the way, another interesting fact….where’s it all going down? In Indy, of course. Gainbridge Fieldhouse is gonna be packed on July 19, and this time, Clark and Phee are the ones calling the shots.
Meanwhile, the Lynx bounced back just fine after that Cup loss, handling the Mystics in a dominant win.
Napheesa Collier takes over late as Lynx bounce back
The Minnesota Lynx clearly didn’t forget what happened last week. Or just two nights ago, for that matter. After a rough Commissioner’s Cup loss and a brutal shooting night, they came into Thursday’s game against the Washington Mystics with something to prove and they definitely did. In a 92-75 win at home, the Lynx reminded everyone exactly why they’ve been leading the WNBA all season long. Napheesa Collier took this one personally. The superstar dropped 28 points, with 11 of them coming in a dominant fourth-quarter stretch that completely buried Washington.
But it didn’t start all that great for Minnesota. The Mystics opened hot, using a 14-2 run to take a 24-14 lead in the first quarter. At that point, it looked like maybe Washington was about to pull off another upset vs Lynx, especially after handing the Lynx one of their only two losses earlier this season. But that was short-lived.
Minnesota flipped the script with a massive 16-6 second-quarter run. Their defense locked in, the Mystics started coughing up the ball, and suddenly the game turned. Washington’s offense just couldn’t keep up once the Lynx started finding rhythm. From deep struggles to turnover disasters, it all unraveled for the Mystics.
Every time the Mystics tried to settle in, they’d make another mistake, and Collier made sure to make them pay, especially late. By halftime, the Lynx were up 43-38. Then came the knockout punch. Minnesota opened the second half with a 12-2 run – three straight buckets from Collier included – and suddenly the lead ballooned to 15. That was pretty much that.
Jun 11, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoots against the Seattle Storm during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images
Washington’s bench actually kept things respectable – Lucy Olsen and Aaliyah Edwards combined for 22 – but the starters never found their groove. With the win, Minnesota now sits at 15-2. And with Napheesa Collier leading the charge like this, they’re making it crystal clear: one Cup loss isn’t shaking this squad anytime soon.
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