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The lineup for this year’s WNBA All-Star 3-point contest has been the talk of the sports world since it was announced. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was among the most notable players absent from the annual contest.
Ionescu addressed the speculation ahead of Wednesday’s Liberty-Sky matchup, pushing back against reports that she opted out of this weekend’s WNBA 3-point contest in Chicago. “I can’t turn down an offer that I was never officially invited to. So was pretty surprised to see that. Was never invited,” the defending 3-point contest champion told reporters during his pregame media availability.
Caitlin Clark and Kayla McBride were also among the high-profile stars who reportedly turned down invitations to the competition.
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New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu competing in the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest on July 18, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
“Whether it’s against Steph Curry or in the W, I always go out and try to beat my record every single time I’ve been out there.” Ionescu has won the 3-point contest twice, highlighted by her record-setting 37-pointer in 2023.
“I just wanted to set the record straight,” she continued. “Like it was fake, but I’m really excited for the contestants in it, and of course there’s going to be a new winner, so I’m excited to see who wins.”
Ionescu later referenced her previous 3-point showdown with Stephen Curry when asked about a follow-up on the issue, “Maybe I’ll do it with Steph again in the NBA All-Star and get a really good official invite.”
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu celebrates after winning the WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest on July 18, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (AJ Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)
The confirmed list of 3-point contest participants includes: Dallas’ Azzi Fudd, Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, Golden State’s Janelle Salaün, Portland’s Bridget Carleton, Toronto’s Marina Mabrey and Seattle’s Natisha Hiedeman. Howard and Mabrey are the only players in that group with previous 3-point contest experience during All-Star weekend.
Earlier this week, Ionescu denied a report that she had opted out of this year’s festivities, commenting on “lies” during a since-deleted Bleacher Report Instagram post. McBride also weighed in via social media, saying her agent had texted her about the event in the 48 hours before her Instagram Story post, but that no formal invitation ever came.
“Posting things like I’m afraid of shooting smoke is weird, and if you didn’t hear it from me, you probably shouldn’t believe it,” McBride wrote. “We should focus on the big shooters in it already!!! Because there are some killas in there.”
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu competes in the WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star weekend at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 18, 2025. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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Despite dealing with an ankle injury early this season, Ionescu entered Wednesday’s game averaging 13.8 points per game. match over 14 appearances.
