Ionescu Says WNBA Never Sent a 3-Point Contest Invitation
Ionescu Says WNBA Never Sent a 3-Point Contest Invitation
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu pushed back Wednesday against reports that she declined an invitation to the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest in Chicago, stating she was never formally asked to participate. "I can't decline an offer I never got officially invited to. So, was pretty surprised to see that. Never got invited," Ionescu told reporters ahead of the Liberty's game against the Chicago Sky. Ionescu is the two-time defending champion of the competition.
The omission of Ionescu from the contest field had drawn widespread attention after the participant lineup was announced. Earlier this week, she disputed a report claiming she had opted out, commenting "lies" on a since-deleted social media post. Kayla McBride, another high-profile absentee, also went public with a similar account, stating through social media that her agent had been contacted informally in the 48 hours before her post, but that no formal invitation was ever extended. "Posting things like I'm afraid of shooting smoke is weird and if you didn't hear it from me prob shouldn't believe it," McBride wrote. best betting sites el salvador
Ionescu's most prominent moment in the contest came in 2023, when she posted a record 37-point performance, a total that also led to a widely watched head-to-head shooting exhibition against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. She has won the competition twice in total. Entering Wednesday's matchup, Ionescu was averaging 13.8 points across 14 games this season, managing that output while recovering from an ankle injury sustained early in the campaign.
The confirmed participant field for this year's contest includes Azzi Fudd, Rhyne Howard, Janelle Salaün, Bridget Carleton, Marina Mabrey, and Natisha Hiedeman. Howard and Mabrey are the only competitors in that group with prior All-Star 3-point contest experience. Ionescu, for her part, left the door open to future opportunities. "Maybe I'll do it with Steph again at NBA All-Star and get a really nice official invite," she said.
