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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will not participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend three-point contest in San Francisco, her representatives at Excel Sports confirmed, per multiple reports. Instead, Clark “wants her first three-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis this summer,” according to the agency’s statement (via ESPN).
Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal first reported that Clark was “disinclined” to take part in the event, though discussions between the NBA and her representatives are reportedly ongoing. “Sources said Clark is not interested in shooting 3-pointers off of a ball rack,” Friend wrote. “Unless she is persuaded otherwise, she will decline the invitation.”
According to previous reports from ESPN, the NBA had been working for months to put together a star-studded contest featuring Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson. Clark’s opt-out would be a setback for the league’s plans.
However, Friend also noted that there remains a possibility Clark could reconsider under certain conditions. One scenario reportedly being discussed would involve Curry competing in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
Sabrina Ionescu ( Elsa/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Ionescu told The Associated Press earlier this month that she intended to attend the NBA All-Star festivities but did not specify if she would participate in any on-court events. On the other hand, Thompson recently spoke about the possibility of joining the contest, saying it would be “cool.”
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Ionescu’s participation last year was a success
The idea of NBA and WNBA stars competing in a three-point contest gained traction last year when Ionescu faced off against Curry in an exhibition during All-Star Weekend. While Curry won the matchup, Ionescu outscored all other contestants. The contest also brought highest ratings in four years for All-Star Saturday night programming with 10 million unique viewers, the NBA said at the time.
With Clark opting to wait until WNBA All-Star Weekend for her first contest, the NBA’s plans remain in flux. Whether a new format or a different set of participants emerges for this year’s event remains to be seen.
