Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu Absent from WNBA 3-Point Contest
In a surprising turn of events, Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu, two of the WNBA’s top stars, will not be participating in this year’s 3-point contest during the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.
Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever rookie, has been making headlines throughout her debut season. She recently set a WNBA single-game record with 19 assists in a game against the Dallas Wings. Despite her stellar performance and popularity, Clark opted out of the 3-point contest to stay prepared as a top alternate for the US Women’s National Team in case of any injuries before the 2024 Paris Olympics. Clark has been a standout in her rookie year, averaging 17.1 points and 8.2 assists per game, and is the favorite to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Sabrina Ionescu, the New York Liberty star and reigning 3-point contest champion, also declined to participate, focusing instead on preparing for the upcoming Olympic camp. Ionescu is having a career-best season, averaging 19.4 points and 6.2 assists per game, and recently set the Liberty franchise record for most 30-point games.
Despite their absence, the 3-point contest will feature other notable players:
- Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
- Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)
- Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun)
- Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx)
- Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics)
The skills challenge participants include:
- Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)
- Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun)
- Sophie Cunningham and Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
- Erica Wheeler (Indiana Fever)
Both Gray and Mabrey will compete in both the 3-point contest and the skills challenge.
While Clark and Ionescu’s absence may disappoint some fans, their decisions highlight their commitment to broader career goals and the upcoming Olympic Games.