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Caitlin Clark Forced To Say Something Nice About Valkyries Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 11:07 AM ET

The draft for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game went down on Tuesday night, just in time for Caitlin Clark to select a player from the Golden State Valkyries before they came to visit the Indiana Fever for a game on Wednesday.

Clark is expected to return against Golden State after missing five games with a groin injury. She was healthy the first time the teams met this season, but the Valkyries limited her to 11 points on 3-for-14 shooting in an 88-77 win.

Despite missing time this season, Clark's immense popularity carried her to the most votes and a role as All-Star captain. She ended up with Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton on her team by default as the last pick on the board, but Clark claimed there was more to it than that.

"Good, I wanted Kayla Thornton on my team," Clark stated after Napheesa Collier took Atlanta Dream All-Star Rhyne Howard with the penultimate pick.

Pushed by ESPN "WNBA Countdown" host Malika Andrews, Clark elaborated on Thornton, a 10th-year veteran making her first WNBA All-Star appearance after joining the expansion franchise in 2025.

"I just think you gotta give her a lot of credit for what she’s been able to help Golden State accomplish so far this year," Clark said. "So happy for her excited for her and glad she can be on our team.”

Caitlin was really happy to get KT

“Good I wanted Kayla Thornton on my team…I just think you gotta give her a lot of credit for what she’s been able to help Golden State accomplish so far this year…so happy for her excited for her and glad she can be on our team.” pic.twitter.com/irPLEHBwsh
— correlation (@nosyone4) July 9, 2025

After passing on Thornton with her other five reserve picks, Clark's praise had more to do with the Valkyries' team success than Thornton as a player.

However, that was an understandable route given their fast start to life in the WNBA. Golden State started the year with a 9-9 record, including a 7-3 mark in home games at "Ballhalla." They were the fastest expansion team to reach five wins in WNBA history.

Caitlin Clark has been watching Golden State Valkyries games because of Kate Martin.

She said the energy at Ballhalla as truly acted as a sixth player. pic.twitter.com/c58J36ojLL
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) June 20, 2025

Thornton is the team's leading scorer, averaging a career-high 14.9 points per game. She is one of just two players on the brand new roster to start every game so far this season.

She joins "Team Clark" for the WNBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Indianapolis on July 19. The rest of Clark's team is headlined by New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson and Clark's Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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