Sabrina Ionescu, the New York Liberty guard and two-time WNBA three-point contest champion, clarified on Wednesday that she never received an invitation to participate in this year’s contest during the All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Her statement came amid reports suggesting she had declined an invitation, which she firmly denied.
“I can’t decline an offer I never got officially invited to,” Ionescu said, responding to a now-deleted social media post that claimed she turned down the opportunity to compete. She added that neither she nor anyone from the Liberty organization had been contacted regarding the event.
The WNBA’s three-point contest is scheduled to be held at the Wintrust Arena and will feature Portland’s Bridget Carleton, Dallas’ Azzi Fudd, Seattle’s Natisha Hiedeman, Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, Toronto’s Marine Mabrey, and Golden State’s Janelle Salaün. This year’s field notably excludes Ionescu, who won the contest last season with a record-setting 37-point performance, becoming one of only two players to win the event multiple times.
A WNBA spokesperson told the Daily News that the league’s usual practice involves reaching out to players’ agents to gauge interest, with some players accepting invitations and others declining. Initial reports also indicated that Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark had declined an invitation. However, Ionescu’s camp maintained that no invitation was extended to her.
Ionescu reflected on the experience of balancing personal decisions with the opportunity to participate in high-profile events. She expressed openness to future engagements, including the potential to compete again in a three-point contest at the 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, building on her prior participation in a historic NBA vs. WNBA three-point showdown against Stephen Curry during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, which Curry narrowly won.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Lynx sharpshooter Kayla McBride described the invitation she received for the contest as a "half-ass invite," which was reportedly sent to her agent via text just 48 hours before the event.
With Ionescu absent from this year’s contest, a new champion will be crowned. The Liberty star congratulated the participants and expressed enthusiasm for the competition, emphasizing her commitment to pushing the sport forward whenever she competes. Ionescu indicated she looks forward to future opportunities and competition but stressed the need to set the record straight on the misinformation surrounding her involvement this year.