The stage is officially set for All-Star Weekend, and the excitement is building. Fan favorites Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier were announced as captains after leading the voting charts, setting the tone for a star-studded event. Soon after, the starters were revealed, headlined by Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, who secured her 10th All-Star nod. With this selection, Ogwumike ties for the third-most All-Star appearances in WNBA history, further cementing her legacy in the league.
While the captains and starters were chosen through a combination of fan, media, and player votes, the reserves were selected by the league’s coaches. The list marks a historic moment for the Golden State Valkyries. Kayla Thornton, the former New York Liberty standout, became the first player in Valkyries history to earn an All-Star selection. Her former Liberty coach, Sandy Brondello, was among those thrilled to see her recognized, proudly celebrating a player she once mentored, now making franchise history.
Sandy Brondello said before their Seattle Storm game regarding Kayla Thornton’s all-star case, “I would be so proud of her, it would be such a reward for her. She’s been a role player her whole career… I voted for her as an alternate to get there, because she deserves it. It would be special.” This would mark Thornton’s first All-Star selection, a long-overdue recognition after years of flying under the radar.
Sandy Brondello on potential Kayla Thornton All-Star nod: “I would be so proud of her, it would be such a reward for her. She’s been a role player her whole career… I voted for her as an alternate to get there, because she deserves it. It would be special.” (Q: @ClassicJpow)
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) July 6, 2025
Thornton has spent six seasons in Dallas with limited impact, then joined the Liberty, where Brondello brought her in to add depth. Despite only starting 11 games over two years and averaging just 20.3 minutes per game, Thornton made her mark as a defensive specialist and was instrumental in New York’s title run last season. That quiet consistency became the foundation for her breakout. Thornton, who went undrafted out of UTEP, was the most experienced player taken by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft. Now, she’s flourishing.
Starting all 17 games this season, she’s leading the team with 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, which are both career highs. Before this year, she had only cracked double-digit scoring once, back in 2019 with Dallas. Today, Thornton isn’t just holding her own. She’s leading the charge for Golden State’s strong 9-8 start and finally getting the spotlight she’s earned.
“She has passed my expectations in terms of stepping up when we need a leading scorer, stepping up when we need a leading defender, or when I need to send a message to the team,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said when her team visited Brooklyn in May. “She always has my back, and she revocalizes things that I say. I’m just really grateful to have KT with us.”
Sandy Brondello is an All-Star this year in her own right, taking charge of Team Collier for her first-ever appearance as head coach at the WNBA All-Star Game. On the opposite sideline will be a familiar rival, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who will lead Team Clark. Captains Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark will select their squads by picking first from the pool of eight starters, followed by the 12 reserves.
Aug 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton (5) dribbles the ball against the LA Sparks in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Brondello’s admiration for Kayla Thornton is no secret, and she may well influence Collier to add Thornton to her roster for the big night. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 19. This year’s event takes place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the home court of the Indiana Fever. It’s not only Thornton’s selection that has caught the eye, but two rookies from Washington are making their mark as well.
Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen among three rookie first-timers For the 2025 All-Star
Paige Bueckers made history this year as the first rookie to be named a 2025 WNBA All-Star. She has been a standout presence on an otherwise underperforming Dallas roster. In a surprising but well-earned turn, Washington Mystics rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will also join Bueckers but as All-Star reserves. Iriafen came very close to earning a starting spot outright. However, her rankings from the media and fellow players weren’t quite strong enough to push her into the starting five.
Together, Citron and Iriafen become just the second rookie duo from the same team to be named All-Stars in their debut season. The only other time this happened was in 1999, when Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Shannon Johnson, and Nykesha Sales represented the Orlando Miracle at the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game.
Iriafen’s selection was widely anticipated. Citron’s inclusion, on the other hand, came as a surprise—not due to a lack of merit, but because Brittney Sykes had been viewed as a more likely pick. Many considered Sykes a lock for the All-Star roster, making her omission in favor of Citron a notable snub. Citron, selected third overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, has been a dynamic and reliable contributor for Washington. Among rookies, she ranks second in scoring with 14.6 points per game, third in rebounding with 4.9 boards, and fifth in assists with 2.0 per game.
Iriafen, the fourth overall pick, has made her mark as one of the league’s most dominant rebounders. She currently ranks fourth in the WNBA in rebounds per game with 8.3, while also averaging 12.3 points and shooting 45.9 percent from the field. The USC alum was also named the WNBA’s Rookie of the Month for May, becoming the first player in Mystics history to earn that honor.
credit – Imago
“They’re not rookies, in a sense,” Mystics center Shakira Austin said after a practice last week. “They’re definitely not playing like it.” The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is shaping up to be more than just a midseason celebration. It is a platform for rising stars to shine, for veterans like Kayla Thornton to finally receive long-overdue recognition, and for standout rookies such as Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron to prove they belong among the league’s elite.
With Sandy Brondello set to coach her first All-Star Game and potentially influence key roster decisions, the weekend is filled with compelling storylines. She will go head-to-head with her longtime coaching rival Cheryl Reeve, adding another layer of intrigue. As experience meets youth on the court in Indianapolis, this year’s All-Star showcase does more than celebrate talent. It offers a clear look at the league’s next generation of leaders and the evolving power structure within the WNBA.
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