Caitlin Clark should quietly recruit these fellow All Stars to the Fever

WNBA All Star 2025 will kick off next week, giving fans the thrill of seeing unexpected teams of players working together, and giving the players in the game a bit of room to partake in a time-honored tradition: quietly pitching athletes to come join their teams ahead of the upcoming season. Caitlin Clark will be captaining one of the squads this season and drafted two players — Gabby Williams and Jackie Young — who would fit with her style of play nicely.

Clark drafted Willams and Young alongside A'ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, Kelsey Mitchell, Sonia Citron, Kayla Thornton, and Kiki Iriafen to her team this week. While Wilson's participation is questionable after the 3-time MVP suffered a wrist injury, the team is strong and dynamic, and should make for an exciting and fast-paced game.

Why this year's All Star will serve as a quiet recruitment hub

All Star usually provides an opportunity for players, coaches, and front offices to mingle and discuss options and possibilities, but this year's weekend of events will take place ahead of next year's period of free agency, which will see most of the league available. That makes it all the more imperative to for teams and players who are seeking new and different talent to make the right connections in the right way.

After a lot of hype during the preseason, the Fever have struggled to really enjoy the kind of season that many fans expected from the team. Some of that is due to issues that need to be ironed out (what happens if Clark is on ball or off, Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham need to improve their shooting, the Fever needs to be more aggressive... there's a lot to think about), but it might also be due to holes that still need to be filled.

What Gabby Williams and Jackie Young could bring to the Fever

Both Williams and Young could be excellent additions to the Fever and would complement the style of play Clark also excels at: fast-paced and defensively-focused. Williams consistently brings a spark and energy to the game that the Fever is still searching for (Cunningham can often be counted upon to do the same, but hasn't consistently done so this season).

Young is a dominant two-way player who excels in ball handling — and whose defense is tough. Young has demonstrated a pronounced ability to adapt to every style of basketball that's been put in front of her and she's from southern Indiana and graduated from Notre Dame, which means joining the Fever would give her the opportunity to be closer to her roots.