Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu both DECLINED offer to compete in 3-point contest at WNBA All-Star weekend.
The WNBA’s 3-point contest over All-Star weekend will take place without Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, but not because they weren’t invited
The WNBA has confirmed to DailyMail.com that both All-Stars were offered the chance to compete before ultimately opting to decline the invitation. Neither player has officially given a reason, and their respective teams and agents have not returned DailyMail.com’s requests for comment.
‘My focus is on this game tonight and then we’ll turn to All-Star then after that,’ Clark told reporters after setting the WNBA’s single-game assist mark on Wednesday’s loss in Dallas.
Many in the media mistakenly assumed the pair were being denied the chance to compete on Friday in Phoenix.
‘And just when you thought the WNBA couldn’t seem more out of touch,’ read an X post from OutKick, ‘Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu won’t be participating in the 3-point contest at the All-Star Game this weekend.’
Caitlin Clark (right) and Sabrina Ionescu (left) will not compete in the 3-point contest
ESPN’s Spain was among those who were disappointed by Ionescu and Clark’s omission
‘Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu are NOT in the 3 pt competition at the WNBA all star game?’ asked Sirius XM’s Maggie Gray. ‘Someone explain this to me like I’m five.’
‘I don’t know how you have a 3-point contest without Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu,’ read a post from For The Win’s Meghan L. Hall. ‘I am baffled by that. That is a MASSIVE miss to me.’
ESPN’s Sarah Spain was equally baffled, but didn’t presume to blame the WNBA: ‘No Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu in the 3-point competition Friday night in Phoenix. I’m sure they have their reasons, but that’s MASSIVE disappointment. Such a missed opportunity.’
Instead of Clark and Ionescu, the WNBA 3-point contest will include New York’s Jonquel Jones, Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey, Washington’s Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota’s Kayla McBride.
Clark and Ionescu’s absences will be notable at Friday’s competition in Phoenix as both rank among the league’s most prolific 3-point shooters.
While Clark ranks only 37th in the league with 32.7-percent accuracy from 3-point range, she’s hit 71 shots from deep this season, which is good enough for third in the league.
Ionescu, meanwhile is in second with 74 3-pointers on the season and ranks 24th in accuracy at 35.6 percent.
