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The lineup for this year’s WNBA All-Star 3-point contest has been a topic of discussion in the sports world since it was announced. New York Liberty goalie Sabrina Ionescu was among the most notable players missing from the annual competition.
Ionescu responded to speculation ahead of Wednesday’s Liberty-Sky game, 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 I was quite surprised to see that. I was never invited,” the reigning 3-point contest champion told reporters during her pre-match media availability.
Caitlin Clark and Kayla McBride were also among the A-list stars who reportedly turned down invitations to the competition.
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New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu competes 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 W, I always try to beat my record, every time I go out.” 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,” she continued. “It was just wrong, but I’m really excited for the contestants, and obviously there’s going to be a new winner, so I can’t wait to see who wins.”
Ionescu then referenced his previous 3-point standoff with Stephen Curry when asked for a follow-up on the issue: “Maybe I’ll do it again with Steph at the NBA All-Star and get a really nice official invitation.”
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 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 this group who already have competitive 3-point experience from All-Star Weekend.
Earlier this week, Ionescu refuted a report that she had pulled out of this year’s festivities, commenting “lies” under a since-deleted Bleacher Report Instagram post. McBride also weighed in via social media, saying her agent texted her about the event in the 48 hours before she posted it on Instagram Story, but no formal invitation was ever received.
“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 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 in the season, Ionescu entered Wednesday night’s game averaging 13.8 points per game in 14 appearances.
