Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu to Headline WNBA 3-Point Contest During All-Star Weekend

The stage is set for a thrilling showdown at this year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend, with Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu headlining the 3-point shooting contest, the league announced Tuesday. The highly anticipated event will take place Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, airing live on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.

This marks Clark’s first 3-point contest as a pro, a moment fans have eagerly awaited. The Indiana Fever guard and All-Star team captain has long been known for her deep-range shooting, often sinking jaw-dropping shots from well beyond the arc. But despite her reputation, Clark has had a challenging rookie season from 3-point range, currently shooting just 28.9% (28 of 97). Injuries to her quad and groin earlier in the season caused her to miss nine games, impacting her rhythm and shooting consistency.

Still, Clark’s shooting ability is undeniable. The former Iowa standout holds the NCAA Division I records for career scoring (3,951 points) and career 3-pointers (548), with a collegiate shooting average of 37.7% from deep. Last season, in her debut year with the Fever, Clark led the WNBA with 122 made threes, shooting 34.4% from beyond the arc.

Joining Clark in the 3-point contest is Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty, the reigning champion who lit up last year’s competition with a record-breaking 37-point final round. Also competing are Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream — the defending champion, Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics, and Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks.

Allisha Gray, who made history last season by winning both the 3-point contest and the skills challenge, will look to repeat her dominant performance. Despite her team struggles, she remains one of the league’s top shooters, currently fourth in total threes (49).

Notably absent from this year’s lineup is Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream, who leads the league with 56 made 3-pointers this season. Unfortunately, Howard is sidelined with a knee injury and will miss the remainder of July, including the All-Star Game. She has been replaced by Kayla McBride of the Minnesota Lynx, who is tied with Plum for second place with 50 threes.

Ionescu currently sits tied for fifth with 47 3-pointers, and Citron, a rookie and All-Star reserve, has made 33 so far in her debut season.

Clark, who made the All-Star team as a rookie last year but did not participate in the 3-point contest, had a clear vision for her debut. Her management team shared earlier this year that she turned down an opportunity to compete at NBA All-Star Weekend in favor of making her first 3-point contest appearance in front of her home crowd in Indianapolis at the WNBA’s premier event.

In addition to the 3-point contest, the skills challenge lineup was also revealed, featuring Gray, Natasha Cloud (New York Liberty), Skylar Diggins-Smith and Erica Wheeler (Seattle Storm), and Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx).

The WNBA All-Star Game will be held the following evening — Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC — and will feature teams drafted by captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx.

As excitement builds for All-Star Weekend, all eyes will be on Caitlin Clark as she steps into the spotlight for her long-awaited 3-point contest debut — not just to showcase her range, but to remind fans of the sharpshooter who once rewrote college basketball history.