The WNBA has some explaining to do.
When the league announced the participants for the three-point contest set to take place at WNBA All-Star Weekend, fans were stunned to see two stars left off the list.
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu will not be participating in Friday’s three-point contest in Phoenix. The five-player lineup instead includes Washington Mystics’ Stefanie Dolson, Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray, New York Liberty’s Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun’s Marina Mabrey and Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride.
Ionescu, the contest’s reigning champion, has sank 74 three-pointers made this season, good for second-most in the league behind McBride. The Liberty star also memorably squared off against Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry in a first-of-its-kind three-point contest during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in February.
Clark, who has been shooting threes at a 32.7 percent clip this season, is in a three-way tie for third-most in the league with 71 three-pointers.
Both players will already be in Phoenix this weekend to face off in the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday in which Clark and Team WNBA will take on Ionescu and Team USA.
Fans were baffled to find out two of women’s basketball’s most talented sharpshooters would not be taking part in the three-point contest.
WAT? NO Caitlin? NO Ionescu in the WNBA 3 point contest? Thats like goin to watch the Stones and Mick n Keith are sittin back stage smokin a cigaret instedda bein ON stage…Wats goin on WNBA?
— Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) July 18, 2024
I don’t know how you have a 3-point contest without Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu.
I am baffled by that. That is a MASSIVE miss to me.
Not even Kelsey Mitchell? Jackie Young?
I’m just going to convince myself that they said no because nothing else makes sense. pic.twitter.com/RUQMUvAdHB
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) July 18, 2024
No Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu in the 3-point competition Friday night in Phoenix. I’m sure they have their reasons, but that’s MASSIVE disappointment. Such a missed opportunity.
Jonquel Jones, Stefanie Dolson, Kayla McBride, Allisha Gray & Marina Mabrey will compete.
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) July 18, 2024
Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu are NOT in the 3 pt competition at the WNBA all star game?
Someone explain this to me like I’m five
— Maggie Gray (@MaggieGray) July 18, 2024
How are you gonna do a 3 point contest that doesn’t include sabrina and caitlin? https://t.co/fbxyYnvK1U
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) July 18, 2024
Me seeing Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu aren’t in the three point contest: https://t.co/aY0Vqj0Vrj
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) July 18, 2024
No Caitlin Clark? No Sabrina Ionescu?
Why does the WNBA not put its biggest stars out front?
Who is your commissioner? Rob Manfred? pic.twitter.com/LKbFHGrzKI
— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) July 18, 2024
no disrespect to anyone else but having a 3-point contest without caitlin and sabrina is a massive fumble of the bag
— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) July 18, 2024
The WNBA has since confirmed that Ionescu and Clark both declined the league’s invitation to participate in the three-point contest, per Doug Feinberg.
The WNBA three-point contest will be broadcast on ESPN on Friday at 9 p.m. ET.
