Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu hit lots of threes. But they aren’t in All-Star shooting contest
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu is the reigning champion of the WNBA’s three-point contest.
She won’t be taking part in this year’s competition.
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is just months removed from a college career at Iowa in which she set NCAA women’s basketball records for three-pointers in a season (201) and in a career (548).
She too does not appear on the list of participants released Wednesday.
The WNBA confirmed to The Times on Thursday that Ionescu and Clark were invited to compete in the event, which will help kick off All-Star weekend Friday in Phoenix, but both women declined.
Rivals Caitlin Clark of the Fever and Angel Reese of the Sky will be teammates as WNBA All-Stars. Their team plays the U.S. Olympic squad before the Paris Games.
Instead, the participants will be Minnesota‘s Kayla McBride, Washington’s Stefanie Dolson, New York’s Jonquel Jones and Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey.
It is unclear why Ionescu and Clark chose not to participate. Both will be taking part in the All-Star Game on Saturday — Clark as a member of Team WNBA and Ionescu as part of Team USA, which will represent the U.S. in the Paris Olympics.
Ionescu is one of four players (with McBride, Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale and Las Vegas’ Kelsey Plum) who average a WNBA-best three three-pointers a game. Clark is right behind that group, tied with Phoenix‘s Diana Taurasi with 2.7 a game.
McBride leads all players with 76 threes, followed by Ionescu with 74 and Clark, Ogunbowale and Plum with 71.
Before the Fever’s game against Dallas on Wednesday, Clark was asked if the league had reached out to her regarding the three-point contest.
“I don’t know,†Clark said. “My focus is on this game tonight and then we’ll turn to All-Star.â€
What the USA women’s basketball committee is doing to Caitlin Clark and millions of new fans is misguided, short-sighted and just plain wrong.
Clark went on to set a WNBA record with 19 assists during a 101-93 loss. Afterward, she spoke about having more than three weeks off following the All-Star Game as the WNBA shuts down for the Olympics.
“It’ll be really good for myself and my body,†she said. “You’re getting close to a full year of just playing basketball nonstop.â€
Ionescu was asked Tuesday about the possibility of defending her three-point title.
“I haven’t decided if I’m doing it, to be honest,†the first-time Olympian said.†I have a lot going on.â€
She added that it would be tough to beat winning the contest the first time.
“That’s just kind of one of those moments in sports where you’re just like I just can’t believe that happened,†Ionescu said.
The Lakers star is leading a contingent of America’s best basketball talent possibly ever assembled to claim what might be the last championship he’ll win.
Participants in the skills challenge, also a part of Friday’s festivities, will be Mabrey, Phoenix’s Brittney Griner and Sophie Cunningham, Atlanta‘s Allisha Gray and Indiana’s Erica Wheeler.
Also on Wednesday, USC icon Cheryl Miller was announced as coach of Team WNBA. A three-time Naismith player of the year, Miller led the Trojans to national titles in 1983 and 1984, and won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. in ‘84, before serving as USC’s coach from 1993 to 1995. She also coached the Mercury from 1997 to 2000.
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