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The lineup for this year’s WNBA All-Star 3-point contest has been a topic of conversation in the sports world since it was announced. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was among the most notable players absent from the annual competition.
Ionescu addressed the speculation ahead of Wednesday’s Liberty-Sky matchup, rejecting reports that she decided not to participate in this weekend’s WNBA 3-point contest in Chicago. “I can’t turn down an offer that I was never officially invited to. So I was very surprised to see that. I was never invited,” the defending 3-point contest champion told reporters during her 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 at the W, I always go out there and try to beat my record, every time I go out there.” Ionescu has won the 3-point contest twice, highlighted by her record-breaking 37-point performance in 2023.
“I just wanted to set the record straight,” he continued. “That was just false, but I’m really excited for the contestants and obviously there will be a new winner, so I’m excited to see who wins.”
Ionescu later referenced his previous 3-point matchup with Stephen Curry when asked about the topic: “Maybe I’ll do it with Steph again at NBA All-Star and get a really nice official invite.”
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu celebrates after winning the WNBA Star 3-Point Contest on July 18, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (AJ Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)
The confirmed list of participants in the 3-point contest includes: Azzi Fudd of Dallas, Rhyne Howard of Atlanta, Janelle Salaün of Golden State, Bridget Carleton of Portland, Marina Mabrey of Toronto and Natisha Hiedeman of Seattle. Howard and Mabrey are the only players in that group with prior experience in 3-point contests on All-Star weekend.
Earlier this week, Ionescu refuted a report that she had opted out of this year’s festivities, commenting “lies” on a since-deleted Bleacher Report Instagram post. McBride also weighed in via social media, saying that her agent had texted her about the event in the 48 hours before it was posted on Instagram Story, but that a formal invitation never arrived.
“Posting things like I’m afraid of shooting smoke is weird and if you haven’t heard it from me, you probably shouldn’t believe it,” McBride wrote. “We should focus on the big shooters already!!! Because there are some killas 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 suffering an ankle injury earlier this season, Ionescu entered Wednesday night’s game averaging 13.8 points per game in 14 appearances.
